Evaluation of the protective efficacy of a commercial vaccine against different antigenic groups of H9N2 influenza viruses in chickens

Despite the long-term vaccination programs implemented in China, H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) continue to persist in chicken populations, even in vaccinated flocks. We previously demonstrated that H9N2 AIV isolated from chickens in China also underwent antigenic drift and evolved into distinct antigenic groups (C, D and E). To understand whether antigenic drift of viruses away from the vaccine strain partially contributed to the circulation of H9N2 AIV in China, we evaluated the protective efficacy of a commercial vaccine against different antigenic groups of H9N2 AIV. Challenge experiments using vaccinated chickens indicated that the vaccine prevented shedding of antigenic group C viruses, but not those of the more recent groups D and E. Vaccinated chickens, even those with vaccine-induced HI titers of 1:1024, shed virus after being infected with A/chicken/Shandong/ZB/2007, a representative virus of antigenic group D. Genetic analysis showed that the representative viruses of antigenic groups D and E possessed greater numbers of amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin protein compared to the vaccine strain and the antigenic group C virus, and many of which were located in antigenic sites. Our results indicated that the persistence of H9N2 AIV in China might be due to incomplete vaccine protection, and that the avian influenza vaccine should be regularly evaluated and updated to maintain optimal protection. Furthermore, the avian influenza vaccination policy also needs to be re-assessed, and increased veterinary biosecurity on farms, rather than vaccine application alone, should be implemented to prevent and control avian influenza.     

禽流感病毒H5N1变异株灭活疫苗(Re-4株)对鸡、鸭和鹅的免疫效果研究

为系统评估禽流感病毒(AIV)H5N1变异株灭活疫苗(Re-4株)对家禽的免疫效果,本研究将Re-4株油乳剂灭活疫苗免疫SPF鸡和商品蛋鸡、商品鸭及商品鹅。免疫后每周采集血清测定HI抗体,绘制抗体消长曲线,免疫SPF鸡在免疫后2周、3周和50周时以105EID50剂量的强毒株(CK/SX/2/06)进行攻毒。研究结果显示,该疫苗对蛋鸡、鸭、鹅均具有良好的免疫效果,而且SPF免疫鸡血清HI抗体在4log2以上时能够完全抵抗CK/SX/2/06强毒的攻击。因此,根据实验结果推荐该油乳剂灭活疫苗的对上述禽类的免疫程序:商品蛋鸡10日龄颈部皮下注射0.3mL,60日龄和110日龄(开产前)时依次胸肌注射0.5mL和1.0mL进行免疫;商品鸭、鹅在2周龄均以0.5mL首免,5周龄和4月龄左右时以1mL的剂量肌肉注射方式进行加强免疫。     

Virus interference between H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus and lentogenic Newcastle disease virus in experimental co-infections in chickens and turkeys

Low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and lentogenic Newcastle disease virus (lNDV) are commonly reported causes of respiratory disease in poultry worldwide with similar clinical and pathobiological presentation. Co-infections do occur but are not easily detected, and the impact of co-infections on pathobiology is unknown. In this study chickens and turkeys were infected with a lNDV vaccine strain (LaSota) and a H7N2 LPAIV (A/turkey/VA/SEP-67/2002) simultaneously or sequentially three days apart. No clinical signs were observed in chickens co-infected with the lNDV and LPAIV or in chickens infected with the viruses individually. However, the pattern of virus shed was different with co-infected chickens, which excreted lower titers of lNDV and LPAIV at 2 and 3 days post inoculation (dpi) and higher titers at subsequent time points. All turkeys inoculated with the LPAIV, whether or not they were exposed to lNDV, presented mild clinical signs. Co-infection effects were more pronounced in turkeys than in chickens with reduction in the number of birds shedding virus and in virus titers, especially when LPAIV was followed by lNDV. In conclusion, co-infection of chickens or turkeys with lNDV and LPAIV affected the replication dynamics of these viruses but did not affect clinical signs. The effect on virus replication was different depending on the species and on the time of infection. These results suggest that infection with a heterologous virus may result in temporary competition for cell receptors or competent cells for replication, most likely interferon-mediated, which decreases with time.     

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.     

H7N2禽流感病毒分离株血凝素蛋白全基因的序列分析

为进一步分析H7N2禽流感病毒（AIV）分离株血凝素（HA）基因的特性,参照已发表序列设计了1对引物,采用RT-PCR获得了1条约1.7 kb的DNA片段,测序后进行了同源性比较、HA基因系统发育进化树分析和氨基酸编码分析.结果表明,所测的2个分离株的HA基因全长1 664 bp,编码除信号肽以外的HA蛋白的全部544个氨基酸,其中包括HA1的323个氨基酸,HA2的221个氨基酸.2个分离株HA基因核苷酸序列的同源性为99.4%;与GenBank中AIV标准株A/Afri.Star./Eng-Q/983/79（H7N1）的同源性最高,分别为99.4%和99.0%;与美国A/Chicken/NewYork/13142-5/94（H7N2）株同源性很低（仅65.0%）,而与以色列、意大利H7N2 AIV的同源性较高（为96%～97%）;2个分离株在HA基因进化树中均处于H7亚型AIV的欧亚群系分支内.推导氨基酸的序列分析表明,其HA蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸序列为-GR-GLF-,仅包含1个碱性氨基酸（R-）残基,符合低致病力AIV的基因特征.     

重组禽流感病毒(H5+H7)二价灭活疫苗(H5N1 Re-8株+H7N9 H7-Re1株)对商品肉鸡的免疫效力研究

为评估重组禽流感病毒(H5+H7)二价灭活疫苗(H5N1 Re-8株+H7N9 H7-Re1株)对商品肉鸡的免疫保护效果,本研究将该疫苗按照现地免疫程序分别接种10日龄白羽肉鸡和14日龄黄羽肉鸡,疫苗接种前和接种后每周采血,分离血清,检测H5亚型Re-8株和H7亚型H7-Re1株禽流感病毒(AIV)HI抗体滴度,并在初次免疫后3周和出栏时以鼻腔感染方式分别进行攻毒试验。结果显示,免疫前,所有肉鸡血清中H7亚型H7-Re1株AIV HI抗体滴度均低于1log2,H5亚型Re-8株AIV平均HI抗体滴度分别为5.3log2(白羽肉鸡)和4.1log2(黄羽肉鸡);一次免疫的白羽肉鸡在免疫后3周至出栏时,2种亚型AIV平均HI抗体滴度在6.0log2~6.7log2;2次免疫的黄羽肉鸡在初次免疫后3周至出栏时,2种亚型AIV平均HI抗体滴度均在6.0log2以上。在一次免疫后3周时和出栏时,采用高致病性H5、H7亚型AIV攻毒后,对照组白羽肉鸡和黄羽肉鸡均全部死亡,免疫组白羽肉鸡和黄羽肉鸡均不发病、不排毒、不死亡,获得100%的免疫保护。本研究结果表明,重组AIV二价灭活疫苗对商品肉鸡具有良好的免疫效果,为该疫苗的现地应用提供了参考依据。     

Transmission characteristics of low pathogenic avian influenza virus of H7N7 and H5N7 subtypes in layer chickens

Low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIv) infections of H5 and H7 subtypes in poultry are notifiable to the OIE, hence surveillance programmes are implemented. The rate at which LPAIv strains spread within a flock determines the prevalence of infected birds and the time it takes to reach that prevalence and, consequently, optimal sample size and sampling frequency. The aim of this study was to investigate the transmission characteristics of an H7N7 and an H5N7 LPAIv in layer chickens. Two transmission experiments were performed, which consisted of 30 (first experiment) and 20 (second experiment) pairs of conventional layers, respectively. At the start of the experiments, one chicken per pair was inoculated with LPAIv and the other chicken was contact-exposed. Occurrence of infection was monitored by regularly collecting tracheal and cloacal swab samples, which were examined for the presence of virus RNA by RT-PCR. The results of the test were used to estimate the transmission rate parameter (β), the infectious period (T) and the basic reproduction ratio (R(0)). In addition, egg production and virus shedding patterns were quantified. For the H7N7 virus, the β, T and R(0) estimates were 0.10 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04-0.18) day(-1), 7.1 (95% CI: 6.5-7.8) days and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.0-1.7), respectively. With the H5N7 virus, only a few inoculated chickens (5 out of 20) became infected and no transmission was observed. This study shows that transmission characteristics of LPAIv strains may vary considerably, which has to be taken into account when designing surveillance programmes.     

A vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus strain from the influenza virus library conferred protective immunity to chickens against the challenge with antigenically drifted highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

Inactivated influenza virus vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic influenza virus strain A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/2004 (H5N1) from the virus library conferred protective immunity to chickens against the challenge of antigenically drifted highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV), A/whooper swan/Hokkaido/1/2008 (H5N1). The efficacy of the vaccine was comparable to that prepared from genetically modified HPAIV strain deltaRRRRK rg-A/ whooper swan/Mongolia/3/2005 (H5N1), which is more antigenically related to the challenge virus strain, in chickens.     

Pathogenicity of an avian influenza virus serotype H9N2 in chickens

A low pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV) serotype H9N2 affected many commercial flocks in the Middle East in late 1990s and early 2000s. Due to the varying pathogenicity ofAIV H9N2 reported in previous studies, this study was carried out to determine the pathogenicity of a Jordanian isolate of H9N2 in broiler and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Mild tracheal rales were observed in the broilers but not in the SPF birds starting 3 days postinfection (DPI) and until the end of the experiment at 16 DPI. Infected chickens had gross and histologic changes limited to the respiratory system (sinuses, trachea, lungs, and air sacs) characterized by congestion and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. However, the lesions in the broiler chickens were more severe than those in the SPF chicks. Furthermore, the virus caused significant (P = 0.004) reduction (230 g) in average body weight of the infected broiler group compared with the uninfected broiler group. Both broiler and SPF-infected groups seroconverted, and they had a geometric mean titer of 2(8.2) and 2(9.3), respectively, on the hemagglutination inhibition test at 16 DPI. Cloacal virus shedding was not detected by 9 DPI and 15 DPI in broiler and SPF-infected groups, respectively. This study demonstrated the pathogenic nature of the local Jordanian H9N2 isolate and the variation from what it has been reported in other countries of the region. Regional effort should be directed to start an eradication program of this disease because of its pathogenicity for chickens, wide distribution, and possible interference with surveillance for H5N1 serotype.     

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒流行病学及其疫苗的研究进展

禽流感(avian influenza AI)是由A型流感病毒引起的一种高度接触性传染病。H9N2是A型流感病毒的1个亚型,其谱系复杂,流行范围广,已经成为我国AI的主要亚型。尽管我国自1998年就开始进行H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)的防疫,但目前其疫苗株与流行株的抗原性已经出现了较大的差异。带毒野禽的迁徙不仅使H9N2AIV防控难度加大,而且使AI的流行不断复杂化;活禽交易市场为AIV重排以及跨种传播提供了有利的条件。此外,H9N2AIV感染谱在不断扩大,不仅感染哺乳动物,甚至已经感染了人群;因此,有必要重新认识H9N2AIV的兽医学和公共卫生学意义。现就H9N2AIV近年在我国的流行情况及其疫苗的研究进展作一综述。     

Comparative serological evaluation of avian influenza vaccine in turkeys

Four- and six-week-old turkeys were vaccinated subcutaneously using avian influenza virus (AIV) A/Duck/613/MN/79 (H4N2) killed oil-emulsion vaccine. Sequential serological tests using agar gel precipitin (AGP), hemagglutination inhibition (HI), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring antibodies to AIV were performed up to 4 weeks postvaccination, when birds were challenged intranasally using A/Turkey/MN/80 (H4N2) live AIV. The ELISA was 25 to 1600 times more sensitive than the HI test and was able to detect antibody production earlier than the HI test. All turkeys with an ELISA titer of greater than or equal to 800 were protected against homologous challenge, as measured by virus recovery 3 days postchallenge. Four turkeys out of 20 serologically negative by AGP and HI tests but ELISA-positive were protected.     

H9N2亚型鸡源禽流感病毒分离与鉴定

禽流感 (AI)又名真性鸡瘟或欧洲鸡瘟 ,是由正粘病毒科 A型流感病毒引起的一种传染病 ,是国际兽医局规定的 A类烈性传染病。鸡、火鸡、鸭和鹌鹑等家禽及其他野禽均可感染。我们从新乡市某蛋鸡场分离鉴定 1株低致病力的 H9N2亚型的禽流感病毒毒株 ,现报告如下。1　材料与方法1.1　材料　病料来自河南职业技术师范学院禽病研究所接诊检验的病、死鸡。禽流感 A型琼扩抗原、标准阳性血清以及抗 HA、NA分型血清购自中国农科院哈尔滨兽医研究所 ;抗新城疫 (ND)血清和抗减蛋综合征 (EDS- 76 )血清由本院禽病研究所提供。 SPF鸡胚和雏鸡购自…     

Evaluation of the infectivity, length of infection, and immune response of a low-pathogenicity H7N2 avian influenza virus in specific-pathogen-free chickens

The H7N2 subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) field isolate (H7N2/chicken/PA/3779-2/97), which caused the 1997-98 AIV outbreak in Pennsylvania, was evaluated for its infectivity, length of infection, and immune response in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The composite findings of three clinical trials with various concentrations of virus indicated that this H7N2 subtype contained minimal pathogenicity for chickens. The concentration of the virus in the inoculum proved critical in the establishment of a productive infection in a chicken. Seven-day-old SPF chickens were not infected when inoculated with 10(0.7-2.0) mean embryo lethal dose (ELD50) of the H7N2 virus per bird. At this dose level, the immune response to this virus was not detected by the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Nonetheless, chickens at ages of 5 and 23 wk old tested were successfully infected when exposed to 10(4.7-5.7) ELD50 of H7N2 infectious doses per bird by various routes of administration and also by direct contact. Infected birds started shedding virus as early as 2 days postinoculation, and the period of virus shedding occurred mostly within 1 or 2 wk postinoculation (WPI). This H7N2 subtype of AIV induced a measurable immune response in all birds within 2 wk after virus exposure. Antibody titers were associated with AIV infectious doses and age of exposure of birds. Challenge of these infected birds with the same H7N2 virus at 5 and 10 WPI indicated the infective virus was recoverable from cloacal swabs at 3 days postchallenge and disappeared thereafter. In these challenged birds, the antibody levels as measured by the HI test spiked within 1-2 wk.     

Comparative pathobiology of low and high pathogenicity H7N3 Chilean avian influenza viruses in chickens

Chickens were intranasally inoculated with Chilean H7N3 avian influenza (AI) viruses of low pathogenicity (LP) (H7N3/LP), high pathogenicity (HP) (H7N3/HP), and a laboratory derivative (02-AI-15-#9) (H7N3/14D) from the LPAI virus to determine pathobiologic effects. All chickens inoculated with H7N3/HP AI virus became infected and abruptly died 2 or 3 days postinoculation, but a few showed moderate depression before death. The H7N3/HP AI virus produced focal hemorrhages of the comb, petechial hemorrhage at the esophageal-proventricular junction and proventricular mucosa, edema and congestion of the lung, petechiation of the spleen, and generalized decrease in body fat. Histologically, severe necrosis, hemorrhage, and inflammation were primarily identified in lungs and the lymphoid tissues. All tissues sampled from the H7N3/HP AI group were positive for the AI viral antigen, predominantly in endothelium of blood vessels throughout most tissues and less frequently in histiocytes and cellular debris of lymphoid tissues. Even less consistently, cardiac myocytes, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, glandular epithelial cells, microglial cells, and neurons became infected. These studies suggest the Chilean H7N3/LP AI virus was poorly infectious for chickens and may have been recently introduced from a nongalliform host. By contrast, the H7N3/HP AI virus was highly infectious and lethal for chickens. The H7N3/HP AI virus had a strong tropism for the cardiovascular system, principally vascular endothelium, which is similar to the viral tropism demonstrated previously with other H5 and H7 HPAI viruses. Interestingly, the H7N3/LP AI virus on intravenous inoculation replicated in cardiac myocytes, a feature of HPAI and not LPAI viruses, which further supports the theory that the H7N3/LP AI virus was in transition from LP to HP.     

重组禽流感病毒灭活疫苗(H9N2亚型,Re-9株)对2010年～2011年流行病毒株免疫效力的研究

为评价H9N2亚型重组禽流感病毒(AIV)灭活疫苗Re-9株的免疫效力,本研究选取2010年～2011年分离的5株H9N2亚型AIV进行攻毒保护实验。这5个分离株均为类A/CK/Beijing/1/94病毒株,其HA和NA基因与Re-9株及其亲本株的同源性介于90.6%～97.5%和88.1%～98.7%之间,其抗原相关值在66.67%～100%之间。将Re-9株为种毒制备灭活疫苗,免疫4周龄SPF雏鸡后,3周时平均HI抗体效价达9.5 log2;在免疫后3周以2×107EID50的剂量攻击亲本株和5株流行病毒株,攻毒后采集3 d、5 d、7 d的拭子,免疫组拭子样品病毒检测均为阴性;对照组3 d、5 d拭子病毒检测的阳性率均在80%以上,7 d的阳性率在60%以下。以上结果表明灭活疫苗Re-9株抗原针对性强,而且具有良好的免疫效力,能够抵御近年来分离的H9N2亚型AIV,是理想的H9N2亚型禽流感疫苗株。     

禽H9N2亚型重组流感病毒疫苗候选株的构建及其免疫效果评价

以G57基因型分离株A/Chicken/Jilin/DH104/2012(H9N2)为HA和NA基因的供体,以A/Swan/Jilin/SN8/2009(H11N6)的6个内部基因作为疫苗候选株的骨架,利用反向遗传技术拯救了1株重组H9N2亚型禽流感病毒疫苗候选株rDH104。将该重组病毒灭活后免疫7日龄SPF鸡,28日龄加强免疫1次,血清HI抗体保护水平至少可以维持58d,表明该重组病毒具有良好的免疫原性。本试验为研制与当前H9N2亚型禽流感病毒流行株抗原性相匹配的候选疫苗株提供了依据。