Low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses infect chicken layers by different routes of inoculation

In order to develop better control measures against avian influenza, it is necessary to understand how the virus transmits in poultry. In a previous study in which the infectivity and transmissibility of the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus was examined in different poultry species, we found that no or minimal infection occurred in chicken and turkeys intranasally (IN) inoculated with the virus. However, we demonstrated that the virus can infect laying turkey hens by the intracloacal (IC) and intraoviduct (IO) routes, possibly explaining the drops in egg production observed in turkey breeder farms affected by the virus. Such novel routes of exposure have not been previously examined in chickens and could also explain outbreaks of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) that cause a decrease in egg production in chicken layers and breeders. In the present study, 46-wk-old specific-pathogen-free chicken layers were infected by the IN, IC, or IO routes with one of two LPAI viruses: a poultry origin virus, A/chicken/CA/1255/02 (H6N2), and a live bird market isolate, A/chicken/NJ/12220/97 (H9N2). Only hens IN inoculated with the H6N2 virus presented mild clinical signs consisting of depression and anorexia. However, a decrease in number of eggs laid was observed in all virus-inoculated groups when compared to control hens. Evidence of infection was found in all chickens inoculated with the H6N2 virus by any of the three routes and the virus transmitted to contact hens. On the other hand, only one or two hens from each of the groups inoculated with the H9N2 virus shed detectable levels of virus, or seroconverted and did not transmit the virus to contacts, regardless of the route of inoculation. In conclusion, LPAI viruses can also infect chickens through other routes besides the IN route, which is considered the natural route of exposure. However, as seen with the H9N2 virus, the infectivity of the virus did not increase when given by these alternate routes.     

Identification and characterization of H2N3 avian influenza virus from backyard poultry and comparison with novel H2N3 swine influenza virus

In early 2007, H2N3 influenza virus was isolated from a duck and a chicken in two separate poultry flocks in Ohio. Since the same subtype influenza virus with hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) genes of avian lineage was also identified in a swine herd in Missouri in 2006, the objective of this study was to characterize and compare the genetic, antigenic, and biologic properties of the avian and swine isolates. Avian isolates were low pathogenic by in vivo chicken pathogenicity testing. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that all genes of the avian isolates were comprised of avian lineages, whereas the swine isolates contained contemporary swine internal gene segments, demonstrating that the avian H2N3 viruses were not directly derived from the swine virus. Sequence comparisons for the H and N genes demonstrated that the avian isolates were similar but not identical to the swine isolates. Accordingly, the avian and swine isolates were also antigenically related as determined by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and virus neutralization assays, suggesting that both avian and swine isolates originated from the same group of H2N3 avian influenza viruses. Although serological surveys using the HI assay on poultry flocks and swine herds in Ohio did not reveal further spread of H2 virus from the index flocks, surveillance is important to ensure the virus is not reintroduced to domestic swine or poultry. Contemporary H2N3 avian influenza viruses appear to be easily adaptable to unnatural hosts such as poultry and swine, raising concern regarding the potential for interspecies transmission of avian viruses to humans.     

Detection of Novel Reassortant Influenza A (H3N2) and H1N1 2009 Pandemic Viruses in Swine in Hanoi,Vietnam

From May to September 2013, monthly samples were collected from swine in a Vietnamese slaughterhouse for influenza virus isolation and serological testing. A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and a novel H3N2 originating from reassortment between A(H1N1)pdm09 and novel viruses of the North American triple reassortant lineage were isolated. Serological results showed low seroprevalence for the novel H3N2 virus and higher seroprevalence for A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. In addition, serology suggested that other swine influenza viruses are also circulating in Vietnamese swine.     

Serologic surveillance of swine H1 and H3 and avian H5 and H9 influenza A virus infections in swine population in Korea

Influenza A is a respiratory disease common in the swine industry. Three subtypes, H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 influenza A viruses, are currently co-circulating in swine populations in Korea. An outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus occurred in domestic bird farms in Korea during the winter season of 2003. Pigs can serve as hosts for avian influenza viruses, enabling passage of the virus to other mammals and recombination of mammalian and avian influenza viruses, which are more readily transmissible to humans. This study reports the current seroprevalence of swine H1 and H3 influenza in swine populations in Korea by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. We also investigated whether avian H5 and H9 influenza transmission occurred in pigs from Korea using both the HI and neutralization (NT) tests. 51.2% (380/742) of serum samples tested were positive against the swine H1 virus and 43.7% (324/742) were positive against the swine H3 virus by HI assay. The incidence of seropositivity against both the swine H1 virus and the swine H3 virus was 25.3% (188/742). On the other hand, none of the samples tested showed seropositivity against either the avian H5 virus or the avian H9 virus by the HI and NT tests. Therefore, we report the high current seroprevalence and co-infectivity of swine H1 and H3 influenza viruses in swine populations and the lack of seroepidemiological evidence of avian H5 and H9 influenza transmission to Korean pigs.     

Genetic characterization of H7N2 influenza virus isolated from pigs

Because pigs have respiratory epitheliums which express both α2-3 and α2-6 linked sialic acid as receptors to influenza A viruses, they are regarded as mixing vessel for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses through genetic reassortment. A H7N2 influenza virus (A/swine/KU/16/2001) was isolated from pig lungs collected from the slaughterhouse. All eight genes of the influenza virus were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis indicated that A/swine/KU/16/2001 originated in Hong Kong and genetic reassortment had occurred between the avian H7N2 and H5N3 influenza viruses. The first isolation of H7 influenza virus in pigs provides the opportunity for genetic reassortment of influenza viruses with pandemic potential and emphasizes the importance of surveillance for atypical swine influenza viruses.     

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 in Mute swans in the Czech Republic

In order to determine the actual prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in wild birds in the Czech Republic extensive surveillance was carried out between January and April 2006. A total of 2101 samples representing 61 bird species were examined for the presence of influenza A by using PCR, sequencing and cultivation on chicken embryos. AIV subtype H5N1 was detected in 12 Mute swans (Cygnus olor). The viruses were determined as HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) and the hemagglutinin sequence was closely similar to A/mallard/Italy/835/06 and A/turkey/Turkey/1194/05. Following the first H5N1 case, about 300 wild birds representing 33 species were collected from the outbreak region and tested for the presence of AIV without any positive result. This is the first report of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 in the Czech Republic. The potential role of swan as an effective vector of avian influenza virus is also discussed.     

Detection and isolation of 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus in commercial piggery,Lagos Nigeria

WHO declared pandemic of A/H1N1influenza in 2009 following global spread of the newly emerged strain of the virus from swine. Presently there is a dearth of data on the ecology of pandemic influenza H1N1 required for planning of intervention measures in sub Saharan Africa. Herein we report isolation of 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 in an intensive mega piggery farms operation in South West Nigeria.     

Novel H1N2 swine influenza reassortant strain in pigs derived from the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus

Swine influenza monitoring programs have been in place in Italy since the 1990 s and from 2009 testing for the pandemic H1N1/2009 virus (H1N1pdm) was also performed on all the swine samples positive for type A influenza. This paper reports the isolation and genomic characterization of a novel H1N2 swine influenza reassortant strain from pigs in Italy that was derived from the H1N1pdm virus. In May 2010, mild respiratory symptoms were observed in around 10% of the pigs raised on a fattening farm in Italy. Lung homogenate taken from one pig showing respiratory distress was tested for influenza type A and H1N1pdm by two real time RT-PCR assays. Virus isolation was achieved by inoculation of lung homogenate into specific pathogen free chicken embryonated eggs (SPF CEE) and applied onto Caco-2 cells and then the complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was performed from the CEE isolate. The lung homogenate proved to be positive for both influenza type A (gene M) and H1N1pdm real time RT-PCRs. Virus isolation (A/Sw/It/116114/2010) was obtained from both SPF CEE and Caco-2 cells. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all of the genes of A/Sw/It/116114/2010, with the exception of neuraminidase (NA), belonged to the H1N1pdm cluster. The NA was closely related to two H1N2 double reassortant swine influenza viruses (SIVs), previously isolated in Sweden and Italy. NA sequences for these three strains were clustering with H3N2 SIVs. The emergence of a novel reassortant H1N2 strain derived from H1N1pdm in swine in Italy raises further concerns about whether these viruses will become established in pigs. The new reassortant not only represents a pandemic (zoonotic) threat but also has unknown livestock implications for the European swine industry.     

Potential role of viral surface glycoproteins in the replication of H3N2 triple reassortant influenza A viruses in swine and turkeys

The H3N2 triple reassortant (TR) influenza viruses emerged in swine in 1998 and then in turkeys in 2003. It was then hypothesized that these viruses crossed the species barrier and transmitted from pigs to turkeys. In previous work we identified viruses with different transmission behavior between the two species, of which A/turkey/Ohio/313053/04 (TK04) transmitted both ways between swine and turkeys, and A/swine/North Carolina/03 (SW03) did not transmit either way between the two species. Utilizing the 12-plasmid reverse genetics (RG) system, we rescued two viruses (TK04 and SW03) with potentially different transmission behavior between pigs and turkeys. Single gene reassortants (SGR) were generated by switching the hemagglutinin (HA) or the neuraminidase (NA) genes between both viruses, and were evaluated for replication in vitro (pig and turkey tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells) and in vivo (pigs and turkeys). RG-created TK04 replicated more efficiently than SW03 in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, TK04 exhibited better binding affinity to plasma membrane preparations (PMP) from pig and turkey tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells compared to SW03. In study with SGR viruses, the HA protein was found to be essential for TK04 virus transmission amongst turkeys, but not sole factor contributing to the efficient replication of virus in turkeys and pigs. Such findings further highlight the polygenic nature of influenza virus pathogenesis.     

猪流感病毒的分离与鉴定

从广东某猪场表现发热和流鼻涕等呼吸道症状的猪群采集28份样品,用鸡胚分离到9株病毒。将病毒传代至第6代,经血清学鉴定、理化特性检查、电镜观察、生物学特性检查和人工致病试验,结果表明,4株分离株为H1N1亚型猪流感病毒,5株为H3N2亚型猪流感病毒。     

Serological and virological surveillance of swine H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus infection in two farms located in Hubei province, central China

Swine influenza viruses H1N1 and H3N2 have been reported in the swine population worldwide. From June 2008 to June 2009, we carried out serological and virological surveillance of swine influenza in the Hubei province in central China. The serological results indicated that antibodies to H1N1 swine influenza virus in the swine population were high with a 42.5% (204/480) positive rate, whereas antibodies to H3N2 swine influenza virus were low with a 7.9% (38/480) positive rate. Virological surveillance showed that only one sample from weanling pigs was positive by RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes revealed that the A/Sw/HB/S1/2009 isolate was closely related to avian-like H1N1 viruses and seemed to be derived from the European swine H1N1 viruses. In conclusion, H1N1 influenza viruses were more dominant in the pig population than H3N2 influenza viruses in central China, and infection with avian-like H1N1 viruses persistently emerged in the swine population in the area.     

猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型多重RT-PCR诊断方法的建立

对我国分离到的猪流感病毒和GenBank数据库中已有的猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型毒株的HA、NA基因核苷酸序列进行分析,分别选出各个病毒亚型HA和NA基因中高度保守且特异的核苷酸区域,设计扩增猪流感病毒H1和H3、N1和N2亚型的2套多重PCR特异性引物,建立了猪流感H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型病毒多重RT-PCR诊断方法。采用该方法对H1N1、H1N2、H3N2亚型猪流感病毒标准参考株进行RT-PCR检测,结果均呈阳性,对扩增得到的片段进行序列测定和BLAST比较,表明为目的基因片段。其它几种常见猪病病毒和其它亚型猪流感病毒的RT-PCR扩增结果都呈阴性。对107EID50/0.1mL病毒进行稀释,提取RNA进行敏感性试验,RT-PCR最少可检测到102EID50的病毒量核酸。对40份阳性临床样品的检测结果是H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型分别为16份、1份和20份,其它3份样品同时含有H1N1和H3N2亚型猪流感病毒,和鸡胚分离病毒结果100%一致。试验证明建立的猪流感病毒H1N1、H1N2和H3N2亚型多重RT-PCR诊断方法是一种特异敏感的诊断方法,可用于临床样品的早期快速诊断和分型。     

Genetic diversity of H9N2 influenza viruses from pigs in China: a potential threat to human health?

Pandemic strains of influenza A virus might arise by genetic reassortment between viruses from different hosts. Pigs are susceptible to both human and avian influenza viruses and have been proposed to be intermediate hosts or mixing vessels, for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses through reassortment or adaptation to the mammalian host. In this study, we summarize and report for the first time the coexistence of 10 (A-J) genotypes in pigs in China by analyzing the eight genes of 28 swine H9N2 viruses isolated in China from 1998 to 2007. Swine H9N2 viruses in genotype A and B were completely derived from Y280-like and Shanghai/F/98-like viruses, respectively, which indicated avian-to-pig interspecies transmission of H9N2 viruses did exist in China. The other eight genotype (C-J) viruses might be double-reassortant viruses, in which six genotype (E-J) viruses possessed 1-4 H5-like gene segments indicating they were reassortants of H9 and H5 viruses. In conclusion, genetic diversity of H9N2 influenza viruses from pigs in China provides further evidence that avian to pig interspecies transmission of H9N2 viruses did occur and might result in the generation of new reassortant viruses by genetic reassortment with swine H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 influenza viruses, therefore, these swine H9N2 influenza viruses might be a potential threat to human health and continuing to carry out swine influenza virus surveillance in China is of great significance.     

Evidence of the concurrent circulation of H1N2, H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses in densely populated pig areas in Spain

This paper reports on a serological and virological survey for swine influenza virus (SIV) in densely populated pig areas in Spain. The survey was undertaken to examine whether the H1N2 SIV subtype circulates in pigs in these areas, as in other European regions. Six hundred sow sera from 100 unvaccinated breeding herds across Northern and Eastern Spain were examined using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests against H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2 SIV subtypes. Additionally, 225 lung samples from pigs with respiratory problems were examined for the presence of SIV by virus isolation in embryonated chicken eggs and by a commercial membrane immunoassay. The virus isolates were further identified by HI and RT-PCR followed by partial cDNA sequencing. The HI test on sera revealed the presence of antibodies against at least one of the SIV subtypes in 83% of the herds and in 76.3% of the animals studied. Of the 600 sow sera tested, 109 (18.2%), 60 (10%) and 41 (6.8%) had SIV antibodies to subtype H1N2 alone, H3N2 alone and H1N1 alone, respectively. Twelve H3N2 viruses, 9 H1N1 viruses and 1 H1N2 virus were isolated from the lungs of pigs with respiratory problems. The analysis of a 436 nucleotide sequence of the neuraminidase gene from the H1N2 strain isolated further confirmed its identity. Demonstrably, swine influenza is still endemic in the studied swine population and a new subtype, the H1N2, may be becoming established and involved in clinical outbreaks of the disease in Spain.     

Pathogenicity of concurrent infection of pigs with porcine respiratory coronavirus and swine influenza virus

Combinations of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) and either of two swine influenza viruses (H1N1 or H3N2) were administered intranasally and by aerosol to six- to eight-week-old specific pathogen-free pigs. The clinical responses, gross respiratory lesions and growth performances of these pigs were studied and compared with those of single (PRCV, H1N1 or H3N2) and mock-infected animals. PRCV infection caused fever, growth retardation and lung lesions, but no respiratory symptoms. Infection with swine influenza viruses caused rather similar, mild symptoms of disease, with H1N1 infection being the least severe. Combined infections with influenza viruses and PRCV did not appear to enhance the pathogenicity of these viruses. Furthermore, viruses were isolated more frequently from tissues and nasal swabs taken from 'single' than 'dual' infected animals, suggesting a possible in vivo interference between replication of PRCV and swine influenza virus.     

Pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in Chilean commercial turkeys with genetic and serologic comparisons to U.S. H1N1 avian influenza vaccine isolates

Beginning in April 2009, a novel H1N1 influenza virus caused acute respiratory disease in humans, first in Mexico and then around the world. The resulting pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 (pH1N1) virus was isolated in swine in Canada in June 2009 and later in breeder turkeys in Chile, Canada, and the United States. The pH1N1 virus consists of gene segments of avian, human, and swine influenza origin and has the potential for infection in poultry following exposure to infected humans or swine. We examined the clinical events following the initial outbreak of pH1N1 in turkeys and determined the relatedness of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene segments from the pH1N1 to two H1N1 avian influenza (AI) isolates used in commercial turkey inactivated vaccines. Overall, infection of turkey breeder hens with pH1N1 resulted in -50% reduction of egg production over 3-4 weeks. Genetic analysis indicated one H1N1 AI vaccine isolate (Alturkey/North Carolina/17026/1988) contained approximately 92% nucleotide sequence similarity to the pH1N1 virus (A/Mexico/4109/2009); whereas, a more recent AI vaccine isolate (A/ swine/North Carolina/00573/2005) contained 75.9% similarity. Comparison of amino acids found at antigenic sites of the HA protein indicated conserved epitopes at the Sa site; however, major differences were found at the Ca2 site between pH1N1 and A/ turkey/North Carolina/127026/1988. Hemagglutinin-inhibition (HI) tests were conducted with sera produced in vaccinated turkeys in North Carolina to determine if protection would be conferred using U.S. AI vaccine isolates. HI results indicate positive reactivity (HI titer > or = 5 log2) against the vaccine viruses over the course of study. However, limited cross-reactivity to the 2009 pH1N1 virus was observed, with positive titers in a limited number of birds (6 out of 20) beginning only after a third vaccination. Taken together, these results demonstrate that turkeys treated with these vaccines would likely not be protected against pH1N1 and current vaccines used in breeder turkeys in the United States against circulating H1N1 viruses should be updated to ensure adequate protection against field exposure.     

Isolation and genetic characterization of avian origin H9N2 influenza viruses from pigs in China

As pigs are susceptible to infection with both avian and human influenza A viruses, they have been proposed to be an intermediate host for the adaptation of avian influenza viruses to humans. In April 2006, a disease caused by highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) occurred in several pig farms and subsequently overwhelmed almost half of China with more than 2,000,000 cases of pig infection. Here we report a case in which four swine H9N2 influenza viruses were isolated from pigs infected by highly pathogenic PRRSVs in Guangxi province in China. All the eight gene segments of the four swine H9N2 viruses are highly homologous to A/Pigeon/Nanchang/2-0461/00 (H9N2) or A/Wild Duck/Nanchang/2-0480/00 (H9N2). Phylogenetic analyses of eight genes show that the swine H9N2 influenza viruses are of avian origin and may be the descendants of A/Duck/Hong Kong/Y280/97-like viruses. Molecular analysis of the HA gene indicates that our H9N2 isolates might have high-affinity binding to the alpha2,6-NeuAcGal receptor found in human cells. In conclusion, our finding provides further evidence about the interspecies transmission of avian influenza viruses to pigs and emphasizes the importance of reinforcing swine influenza virus (SIV) surveillance, especially after the emergence of highly pathogenic PRRSVs in pigs in China.