Co-circulation of H5N6, H3N2, H3N8 and Emergence of Novel Reassortant H3N6 in a Local Community in Hunan Province in China

BackgroundAs the natural hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), aquatic and migratory birds provide a gene pool for genetic transfer among species and across species, forming transient “genome constellations.” This work describes the phylogenetic dynamics of H1NX based on the complete molecular characterization of eight genes of viruses that were collected from 2014 to 2015 in Anhui Province, China.MethodsHemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition tests were used to determine the hemagglutination (HA) activity of the HA subtypes. The entire genomes of the viruses were sequenced on an ABI PRISM 3500xl DNA Analyzer. The sequences were genetically analysed to study their genetic evolution using DNASTAR and MEGA 6. The pathogenic effects of the viruses were evaluated using mouse infection models.ResultsSeven strains of the H1 subtype avian influenza virus were isolated. Phylogenetic analysis indicated natural recombination of the H1 influenza viruses between the Eurasian lineage and the North American lineage. Some genes had high sequence identity with A/bean goose/Korea/220/2011(H9N2), which is a typical case involving viral reassortment between the Eurasian lineage and the North American lineage. The results of infection experiments in mice showed that the viruses could acquire the ability to multiply in mouse respiratory organs without adaptation.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that continued surveillance of wild birds, particularly migratory birds, is important to provide early warning of possible H1 influenza epidemics and to understand the ecology of the virus.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-017-0304-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…with 10 6 EID 50 of test viruses in a volume of 50 μl [12]. Three mice were euthanized on day three post-inoculation (p.i.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemic of wild-origin H1NX avian influenza viruses in Anhui, China

Yao

Wang

et al. 2017

Infect Dis Poverty

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“…Clearly, H5N6 viruses are capable of receiving gene segments, even including the HA gene, from different subtypes and can act as the genomic source for other subtypes, such as H3N6 (17,18). A careful monitoring of H5N6 viruses in LPMs and wild birds is evidently necessary to help prevent the virus from establishing itself in the human population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Evolution and Emergence of H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus in Central China

Chen

Yang

et al. 2017

J Virol

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H5N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) has posed a potential threat to public health since its emergence in China in 2013. To understand the evolution and emergence of H5N6 AIV in the avian population, we performed molecular surveillance of live poultry markets (LPMs) in Wugang Prefecture, Hunan Province, in central China, during 2014 and 2015. Wugang Prefecture is located on the Eastern Asian-Australian migratory bird flyway, and a human death due to an H5N6 virus was reported in the prefecture on 21 November 2016. In total, we sampled and sequenced the complete genomes of 175 H5N6 AIVs. Notably, our analysis revealed that H5N6 AIVs contain at least six genotypes arising from segment reassortment, including a rare variant that possesses an HA gene derived from H5N1 clade 2.3.2 and a novel NP gene that has its origins with H7N3 viruses. In addition, phylogenetic analysis revealed that genetically similar H5N6 AIVs tend to cluster according to their geographic regions of origin. These results help to reveal the evolutionary behavior of influenza viruses prior to their emergence in humans.IMPORTANCE The newly emerged H5N6 influenza A virus has caused more than 10 human deaths in China since 2013. In November 2016, a human death due to an H5N6 virus, in Wugang Prefecture, Hunan Province, was confirmed by the WHO. To better understand the evolution and emergence of H5N6 viruses, we surveyed live poultry markets (LPMs) in Wugang Prefecture before the reported human death, with a focus on revealing the diversity and genomic origins of H5N6 in birds during 2014 and 2015. In general, H5N6 viruses in this region were most closely related to H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4, with the exception of one virus with an HA gene derived from clade 2.3.2 such that it represents a novel reassortant. Clearly, the ongoing surveillance of LPMs is central to monitoring the emergence of pathogenic influenza viruses.

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“…Internal gene segments (except the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) and PB1) of Ck/HE144 (H5N6) were genetically close to those of A/duck/Guangdong/GD01/2014 (H5N6) (see Supporting Information). PB2 of Ck/HE144 (H5N6) was closely related to that of A/muscovy duck/Vietnam/LBM754/2014 (H5N6), and PB1 of Ck/HE144 (H5N6) was closely related to that of A/duck/Hunan/7/2015 (H3N6), isolated in Hunan Province in South China on the Eastern Asian‐Australian Flyway of migratory birds (Li et al., ). All H5 isolates contained multiple basic amino acids, arginine (R) and lysine (K), at the proteolytic cleavage site of the HA protein, PQRERRRKR‐GLF or PLRERRRKR‐GLF, identical to the typical cleavage site motif of H5 HPAIVs (Table ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Province in South China on the Eastern Asian-Australian Flyway of migratory birds (Li et al, 2016). All H5 isolates contained multiple basic amino acids, arginine (R) and lysine (K), at the proteolytic cleavage site of the HA protein, PQRERRRKR-GLF or PLRERRRKR-GLF, identical to the typical cleavage site motif of H5 HPAIVs (Table 2).…”

Section: Genetic Analysis Of H5 Ha Genesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and characterization of avian influenza viruses from raw poultry products illegally imported to Japan by international flight passengers

Shibata

Hiono

Fukuhara

et al. 2017

Transbound Emerg Dis

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The transportation of poultry and related products for international trade contributes to transboundary pathogen spread and disease outbreaks worldwide. To prevent pathogen incursion through poultry products, many countries have regulations about animal health and poultry product quarantine. However, in Japan, animal products have been illegally introduced into the country in baggage and confiscated at the airport. Lately, the number of illegally imported poultry and the incursion risk of transboundary pathogens through poultry products have been increasing. In this study, we isolated avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from raw poultry products illegally imported to Japan by international passengers. Highly (H5N1 and H5N6) and low (H9N2 and H1N2) pathogenic AIVs were isolated from raw chicken and duck products carried by flight passengers. H5 and H9 isolates were phylogenetically closely related to viruses isolated from poultry in China, and haemagglutinin genes of H5N1 and H5N6 isolates belonged to clades 2.3.2.1c and 2.3.4.4, respectively. Experimental infections of H5 and H9 isolates in chickens and ducks demonstrated pathogenicity and tissue tropism to skeletal muscles. To prevent virus incursion by poultry products, it is important to encourage the phased cleaning based on the disease control and eradication and promote the reduction in contamination risk in animal products.

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Co-circulation of H5N6, H3N2, H3N8 and Emergence of Novel Reassortant H3N6 in a Local Community in Hunan Province in China

Cited by 23 publications

References 46 publications

Epidemic of wild-origin H1NX avian influenza viruses in Anhui, China

Epidemic of wild-origin H1NX avian influenza viruses in Anhui, China

Molecular Evolution and Emergence of H5N6 Avian Influenza Virus in Central China

Isolation and characterization of avian influenza viruses from raw poultry products illegally imported to Japan by international flight passengers

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