Neurotropism of the 1997 Hong Kong H5N1 influenza virus in mice

The direct transmission of H5N1 influenza A viruses from chickens to humans in Hong Kong in 1997 emphasized the need to have information on the pathogenesis of avian influenza virus infection in mammals. H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from patients during the incident killed experimentally infected mice. The principal lesions of the mice were broncho-interstitial pneumonia and nonsuppurative encephalitis. Infectious viruses and/or viral antigens were detected in the brain as well as in the trigeminal and vagal ganglia but not in the blood of the mice. These findings suggest that the virus reached the brain through the vagus and/or trigeminal nerves following replication in the respiratory mucosa. The results imply that neurotropism of the H5N1 virus in mice is a novel characteristic in the pathogenesis of infection by human influenza virus isolates.     

Varied pathogenicity of a Hong Kong-origin H5N1 avian influenza virus in four passerine species and budgerigars

This investigation assessed the ability of the zoonotic A/chicken/Hong Kong/220/97 (chicken/Hong Kong) (H5N1) highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to infect and cause disease in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), house sparrows (Passer domesticus), European starlings (Sternus vulgaris), and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) after intranasal administration. Zebra finches were the most severely affected of the five species, demonstrating anorexia, depression, and 100% mortality within 5 days of inoculation. Gross lesions in this species were absent or only mild. But histologic lesions and the corresponding viral antigen were observed in multiple organs, especially in the nasal cavity, brain, pancreas, spleen, adrenal glands, and ovary. Significant morbidity and mortality also were observed in both house finches and budgerigars. Affected birds of these two species demonstrated anorexia, depression, and neurologic signs and typically were moribund or dead within 2 days of the onset of clinical signs. Gross lesions were mild or absent in house finches and budgerigars. Histologically, the brain and pancreas were the most consistently and severely affected organs in house finches. The brain was the most affected organ in budgerigars. Unlike these three species, house sparrows suffered only mild transient depression, had no mortality, and lacked gross lesions. Viral antigen and microscopic lesions were observed only in the heart and testicle of a minority of birds of this species. Starlings demonstrated neither clinical disease nor mortality and lacked gross and histologic lesions. Viral antigen was not observed in any of the collected tissues from starlings. These results indicate that there is significant variation in the pathogenicity of the chicken/Hong Kong virus for different species of birds, including species within the same order. In addition, neurotropism is a recurrent feature among birds that eventually succumb to infection.     

Different infection routes of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in mice

The continuing outbreaks of avian influenza A H5N1 virus infection in Asia and Africa have caused worldwide concern because of the high mortality rates in poultry, suggesting its potential to become a pandemic influenza virus in humans. The transmission route of the virus among either the same species or different species is not yet clear. Broilers and BABL/c mice were inoculated with the H5N1 strain of influenza A virus isolated from birds. The animals were inoculated with 0.1 mL 10^6.83 TCID₅₀ of H5N1 virus oronasally, intraperitoneally and using eye drops. The viruses were examined by virological and pathological assays. In addition, to detect horizontal transmission, in each group, healthy chicks and mice were mixed with those infected. Viruses were detected in homogenates of the heart, liver, spleen, kidney and blood of the infected mice and chickens. Virus antigen was not detected in the spleen, kidney or gastrointestinal tract, but detected by Plaque Forming Unit (PFU) assay in the brain, liver and lung without degenerative change in these organs (in the group inoculated using eye drops. The detection results for mice inoculated using eye drops suggest that this virus might have a different tissue tropism from other influenza viruses mainly restricted to the respiratory tract in mice. All chicken samples tested positive for the virus, regardless of the method of inoculation. Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses are highly pathogenic to chickens, but its virulence in other animals is not yet known. To sum up, the results suggest that the virus replicates not only in different animal species but also through different routes of infection. In addition, the virus was detection not only in the respiratory tract but also in multiple extra‐respiratory tissues. This study demonstrates that H5N1 virus infection in mice can cause systemic disease and spread through potentially novel routes within and between mammalian hosts.     

Efficacy of vaccines in chickens against highly pathogenic Hong Kong H5N1 avian influenza.

In 1997, highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) caused infections in poultry in Hong Kong and crossed into humans, resulting in a limited number of infections including 18 hospitalized cases and six associated deaths. The unique ability of this, AIV to infect both poultry and people raised a concern for the potential of humans to be biological as well as mechanical vectors of this AIV to poultry. The current study was undertaken to determine if existing vaccines and their technologies could be used during an outbreak to protect poultry. Commercial and experimental inactivated whole H5 AIV and baculovirus-expressed AIV H5 hemagglurinin protein vaccines provided protection from clinical signs and death in chickens after lethal challenge by human-origin HP H5N1 Hong Kong strains 156/97 and 483/97. The commercial and experimental inactivated vaccines had mean protective doses ranging from 0.25 to 0.89, which represents the milligrams of viral protein in the vaccines that provided protection from death in half of the birds. Furthermore, the vaccines reduced the ability of the challenge AIV to replicate in chickens and decreased the recovery of challenge AIV from the enteric and respiratory tracts, but the use of a vaccine will nor totally prevent AI virus replication and shedding. Existing vaccines will protect poultry from mortality and reduce virus replication from the new HP AIV strain that can infect both poultry and humans.     

Neurotropism of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/chicken/Indonesia/2003 (H5N1) in experimentally infected pigeons (Columbia livia f. domestica)

This investigation assessed the susceptibility of experimentally infected pigeons to the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 that caused recent outbreaks of avian influenza in birds and humans in several countries of Asia. For this purpose 14 pigeons were infected ocularly and nasally with 10(8) EID50 and clinical signs were recorded and compared with five chickens infected simultaneously as positive controls. The chickens demonstrated anorexia, depression, and 100% mortality within 2 days postinoculation. Three of the pigeons died after a history of depression and severe neurological signs consisting of paresis to paralysis, mild enteric hemorrhage, resulting in a mortality of 21%. Gross lesions in these pigeons were mild and inconsistent. Occasionally subcutaneous hyperemia and hemorrhage and cerebral malacia were observed. Microscopic lesions and detection of viral antigen were confined to the central nervous system of these pigeons. In the cerebrum and to a minor extent in the brain stem a lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis with disseminated neuronal and glial cell necrosis, perivascular cuffing, glial nodules, and in one bird focally extensive liquefactive necrosis could be observed. The remaining nine pigeons showed neither clinical signs nor gross or histological lesions associated with avian influenza, although seroconversion against H5 indicated that they had been infected. These results confirm that pigeons are susceptible to HPAIV A/chicken/Indonesia/2003 (H5N1) and that the disease is associated with the neurotropism of this virus. Although sentinel chickens and most pigeons did not develop disease, further experiments have to elucidate whether or not Columbiformes are involved in transmission and spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.     

Isolation and characterization of influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in chicken in Bhutan

We characterized Influenza A/H5N1 virus that caused the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens in Bhutan in 2010. The virus was highly virulent to chicken, killing them within two days of the experimental inoculation with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.88. For genetic and phylogenetic analyses, complete genome sequencing of 4 viral isolates was carried out. The isolates revealed multiple basic amino acids at their hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, similar to other "Qinghai-like" H5N1 isolates. The receptor-binding site of HA molecule contained avian-like amino acids ((222)Q and (224)G). The isolates also contained amino acid residue K at position 627 of the PB2 protein, and other markers in NS 1 and PB1 proteins, highlighting the risk to mammals. However, the isolates were sensitive to influenza drugs presently available in the market. The sequence analysis indicated that the Bhutan viruses shared 99.1-100% nucleotide homology in all the eight genes among themselves and 2010 chicken isolate from Bangladesh (A/chicken/Bangladesh/1151-11/2010) indicating common progenitor virus. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Bhutan isolates belonged to sub-clade 2.2.3 (EMA 3) and shared common progenitor virus with the 2010 Bangladesh virus. Based on the evidence of phylogeny and molecular markers, it could be concluded that the outbreaks in Bhutan and Bangladesh in 2010 were due to independent introductions of the virus probably through migratory birds.     

Interspecies transmission of influenza viruses: H5N1 virus and a Hong Kong SAR perspective

This account takes stock of events and involvements, particularly on the avian side of the influenza H5N1 'bird flu' incident in Hong Kong SAR in 1997. It highlights the role of the chicken in the many live poultry markets as the source of the virus for humans. The slaughter of chicken and other poultry across the SAR seemingly averted an influenza pandemic. This perspective from Hong Kong SAR marks the coming-of-age of acceptance of the role of avian hosts as a source of pandemic human influenza viruses and offers the prospect of providing a good baseline for influenza pandemic preparedness in the future. Improved surveillance is the key. This is illustrated through the H9N2 virus which appears to have provided the 'replicating' genes for the H5N1 virus and which has since been isolated in the SAR from poultry, pigs and humans highlighting its propensity for interspecies transmission.     

Isolation of avian influenza virus (subtype H5N2) from chicken eggs during a natural outbreak

Avian influenza virus (A/Chicken/Pennsylvania/83; H5N2) was recovered from the yolk, albumen, and shell surface of eggs obtained from naturally infected chicken flocks in Pennsylvania and Virginia. These findings represent the first reported isolation of avian influenza virus from the internal contents of eggs from naturally infected flocks. The need for adequate safeguards to prevent spread of the virus during commercial movement of table and hatching eggs, cracked and "checked" eggs, and egg flats and other materials is emphasized.     

Epidemiology of H5N1 avian influenza

High pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza (AI) infection has been reported in domestic poultry, wildlife, and human populations since 1996. Risk of infection is associated with direct contact with infected birds. The mode of H5N1 spread from Asia to Europe, Africa and the Far East is unclear; risk factors such as legal and illegal domestic poultry and exotic bird trade, and migratory bird movements have been documented. Measures used to control disease such as culling, stamping out, cleaning and disinfection, and vaccination have not been successful in eradicating H5N1 in Asia, but have been effective in Europe.     

Characterization of an H5N1 avian influenza virus from Taiwan

In 2003, an avian influenza (AI) virus of H5N1 subtype (A/Duck/China/E319-2/03; Dk/CHN/E319-2/03) was isolated from a smuggled duck in Kinmen Island of Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences revealed that the virus displayed high similarity to the H5N1 viruses circulating in Asia during 2004 and 2005. The hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the virus contained multiple basic amino acid residues (-RERRRKR-) adjacent to the cleavage site between the HA1 and HA2 domains, showing the highly pathogenic (HP) characteristics. The HP phenotype was confirmed by experimental infection of chickens, which led up to 100% mortality within 24-72h postinfection. The virus replicated equally well in the majority of organs of the infected chickens with titers ranging from 10(7.5) to 10(4.7) 50% embryo lethal dose (ELD50) per gram of tissue. In a mouse model the virus exhibits low pathogenic characteristics with a lethal infection observed only after applying high inoculating dose (>or=10(7.6) ELD50) of the virus. The infectious virus particles were recovered only from the pulmonary system including trachea and lungs. Our study suggests that ducks infected with H5N1 AIV of HPAI pathotype showing no disease signs can carry the virus silently and that bird smuggling represent a serious risk for H5N1 HPAI transmission.     

鸭源H5N5和H5N1亚型禽流感病毒BALB/c鼠感染试验

比较鸭源H5N5亚型禽流感病毒(A/Duck/Changchun/01/2010)和鸭源H5N1亚型禽流感病毒(A/Duck/Liaoning/N/2011)对BALB/c鼠的致病性。以106EID50/50μL剂量鼻腔感染6周龄BALB/c鼠,攻毒后3,5,7,10,14 d取小鼠的肺、脑和肝脏,处理后接种10日龄SPF鸡胚做病毒回收试验,取死亡鸡胚的尿囊液进行RT-PCR检测;分别取接种病毒后5 d小鼠的脑、肝脏、肺脏、脾脏、肾脏进行病理组织学检测。结果显示,小鼠接种H5N5和H5N1亚型禽流感病毒后,均无明显的临床症状,肝脏中分别于接种后3,5 d分离到病毒,肺脏中于接种后5 d分离到病毒,脾脏、肾脏和粪便中均未分离到病毒。病理组织学检测发现,病毒对小鼠的脏器组织产生了不同程度的病理损伤,以肺脏、脑和肝脏较为明显,且H5N1亚型禽流感病毒引起小鼠脑和肝脏的病理损伤比H5N5亚型更严重。这表明2株鸭源禽流感病毒对小鼠均有一定的致病性,且H5N1亚型强于H5N5亚型。     

Transmission and immunopathology of the avian influenza virus A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) human isolate in three commonly commercialized avian species

H7N9 virus infection is a global concern, given that it can cause severe infection and mortality in humans. However, the understanding of H7N9 epidemiology, animal reservoir species and zoonotic risk remains limited. This work evaluates the pathogenicity, transmissibility and local innate immune response of three avian species harbouring different respiratory distribution of α2,6 and α2,3 SA receptors. Muscovy ducks, European quails and SPF chickens were intranasally inoculated with 10⁵ embryo infectious dose (EID)₅₀ of the human H7N9 (A/Anhui/1/2013) influenza isolate. None of the avian species showed clinical signs or macroscopic lesions, and only mild microscopic lesions were observed in the upper respiratory tract of quail and chickens. Quail presented more severe histopathologic lesions and avian influenza virus (AIV) positivity by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which correlated with higher IL‐6 responses. In contrast, Muscovy ducks were resistant to disease and presented higher IFNα and TLR7 response. In all species, viral shedding was higher in the respiratory than in the digestive tract. Higher viral shedding was observed in quail, followed by chicken and ducks, which presented similar viral titres. Efficient transmission was observed in all contact quail and half of the Muscovy ducks, while no transmission was observed between chicken. All avian species showed viral shedding in drinking water throughout infection.     

一株鸡源H6N1亚型禽流感病毒全基因的分子特征

2008年国家禽流感参考实验室在我国禽流感流行病学调查期间分离到1株鸡源H6N1亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)A/Chicken/ZheJiang/80/2008(H6N1)(简称为CK/ZJ/80/08),为了弄清该病毒的分子特征,我们对其8个基因片段分别进行扩增和序列测定,对每个基因进行BLAST分析,找出同源性最高的毒株。利用DNAStar中的Megalign功能进行进化分析。结果表明CK/ZJ/80/08的HA裂解位点附近的氨基酸序列为QIETR↓GLF,推测可能为一株低致病力AIV。其HA基因与日本北海道的A/duck/Hokkaido/228/2003(H6N8)和黑龙江的A/mallard/Heilongjiang/131/2006(H6N2)以及香港早期分离株A/chicken/HongKong/17/77(H6N1)等处于同一分支;NA基因在颈部没有缺失,与A/duck/Tsukuba/718/2005(H1N1)、A/goose/Guangdong/1/96(H5N1)等处于同一分支;M基因与A/duck/Hokkaido/W90/2007(H10N7)高度同源(同源性为99%);NS基因与A/duck/Denmark/65047/04(H5N2)和A/goose/Guangdong/1/96(H5N1)处于同一分支。NP、PA、PB1、PB2分别与贵州和江西分离的H5N2亚型AIV的相应基因关系密切,同源性分别为98%、97%、97%、97%。由此推测CK/ZJ/80/08可能是由H6N2、H1N1、H10N7、H5N2等多个亚型病毒重组而成。     

对麻鸭不同致病力H5N1亚型禽法流感病毒的鉴定

禽流感病毒(avain influenza virus,AIV)根据其HA和NA蛋白分为不同亚型,目前16种HA亚型和9种NA亚型均已从水禽中分离到[1].     

禽流感分离株GD/1/96(H5N1)非结构蛋白结构建模

为预测H5N1亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)NS1蛋白全长结构,本研究以A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96(H5N1)株NS1蛋白氨基酸序列为目标序列,通过同源建模以及蛋白质结构叠合预测出NS1蛋白全长单体以及二聚体初始结构,采用约束分子动力学方法对初始结构进行优化,并利用立体化学、折叠可靠性、残基包装质量等评判方法对优化后的模型进行评估。结果表明所建立的NS1蛋白全长单体及二聚体结构模型具有很高的可信度,可用于基于结构的功能研究及虚拟筛选等工作。