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In 2004, 3 and 4 strains of avian influenza virus (subtype H5N1) were isolated from waterfowl and chickens, respectively, in central People’s Republic of China. Viral replication and pathogenicity were evaluated in chickens, quails, pigeons, and mice. We analyzed the sequences of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the isolates and found broad diversity among them.

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Abstract. A rapid and simple latex agglutination test (LAT) for the detection of avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H5N1 in chicken allantoic fluids, tracheal swabs, and tissues was developed. Monoclonal antibodies against the hemagglutinin glycoprotein of H5N1 were covalently coupled onto the surface of carboxylated latex bead using a water-soluble carbodiimide to obtain sensitized latex particles (SLP). These SLPs strongly agglutinated in the presence of allantoic fluid containing H5N1, but not fluids containing other AIV sub-types such as H1N1, H3N2, H4N6, and H9N2. Using this LAT, the virus was detectable in tracheal swabs 24 hours to 30 days after inoculating chickens with H5N1, with detection rates ranging from 45.5 to 79.2%. Much higher rates of detection were obtained from tissues collected postmortem from H5N1 experimentally infected chickens; lung tissue yielded the highest detection rate (96.7%), followed by kidney, spleen, brain, and liver tissues (90%). Lower detection rates were achieved with heart (41.7%) and cloacal tissues (26.8%). When the LAT was compared with other detection methods, the agreement with the viral isolation, H5 antigen immunochromatographic test,and H5 real-time RT-PCR test was 93.97, 95.18, and 87.95%, respectively. The test was highly specific for H5N1 in chickens and water fowls and had sensitivity comparable to other diagnostic tests evaluated.

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