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In April/May 2013, four outbreaks of avian influenza virus (AIV) infections caused by H9N2 subtype were diagnosed in Poland in fattening turkey flocks exhibiting a drop in feed and water intake, depression, respiratory signs and mortality. The subsequent serological survey carried out on samples collected between June 2012 and September 2013 from 92 poultry flocks detected positive sera in two additional meat turkey flocks located in the same province. The analysis of amino acids in the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins revealed that the detected H9N2 viruses possessed molecular profiles suggestive of low pathogenicity, avian-like SAα2,3 receptor specificity and adaptation to domestic poultry. Phylogenetic studies showed that these H9N2 AIVs grouped within the Eurasian clade of wild bird-origin AIVs and had no relationship with H9N2 AIV circulating in poultry in the Middle East and Far East Asia over the past decade. Experimentally infected SPF chickens with the index-case H9N2 virus remained healthy throughout the experiment. On the other hand, ten 3-week-old commercial turkeys infected via the oculonasal route showed respiratory signs and mortality (2/10 birds). Additional diagnostic tests demonstrated the consistent presence of DNA/RNA of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale, Bordetella avium and, less frequently, of astro-, rota-, reo-, parvo- and adenoviruses in turkeys both from field outbreaks and laboratory experiment. Although no microbiological culture was performed, we speculate that these secondary pathogens could play a role in the pathogenicity of the current H9N2 infections.

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Thirty six novel heterocyclic derivatives of ethyl 2-(2-pyridylacetate) were efficiently synthesized. The new compounds involve the linkage of a 2-pyridyl ring with thiosemicarbazide (compounds 1–7), 1,2,4-triazole (compounds 1a–7a), 1,3,4-thiadiazole (compounds 1b–7b), and 1,3,4-oxadiazole (compounds 1f–7f) moieties. The last group of compounds 1e–7e involves the connection of a 2-pyridyl ring with 1,2,4-triazole and thiourea. 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS methods were used to confirm the structures of the obtained derivatives. The molecular structures of 3, 3b, 7a and 7f were further confirmed by X-ray crystallography. All obtained compounds were tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms, including Gram-positive cocci, Gram-negative rods and Candida albicans. In addition, the obtained compounds were tested for cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against HIV-1.

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