scholarly journals Geographical Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 during the 2006 Outbreak in Austria

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 5815-5823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fink ◽  
Sandra Revilla Fernández ◽  
Hermann Schobesberger ◽  
Josef Koefer
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Wild Bird ◽  
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Isolates

ABSTRACT In spring 2006, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) of subtype H5N1 was detected in Austria in 119 dead wild birds. The hemagglutinin cleavage site showed that the amino acid sequence motif was identical to that of the Qinghai lineage. For detailed analysis, the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of 27 selected Austrian H5N1 viruses originating from different regions and wild bird species were analyzed phylogenetically, which revealed two clearly separated Austrian subclusters, both belonging to European cluster EMA-1. Subcluster South (SCS) contains virus isolates from the south of Austria as well as from Slovenia, Turkey, Egypt, and Nigeria. The second subcluster, Northwest (SCN), covered a larger group of viruses originating from different locations and wild bird species in the northern and very western parts of Austria, as well as from Bavaria and Switzerland. Surprisingly, virus isolates originating from two mute swans and one wild duck found on the north side of the Alps did not cluster with SCN but with SCS. Together with isolates from Bavarian, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Slovakia, they form a genuine subgroup, named subgroup Bavaria (SGB). This subgroup forms a link to SCN, indicating a spread of the virus from south to north. There has been a general assumption that the generic HPAI introduction route into Europe was from Russia to north Germany, introducing cluster EMA-2 into Europe. Interestingly, our findings support the assumption of an alternative introduction of the HPAI H5N1 virus from Turkey to central Europe, where it spread as cluster EMA-1 during the outbreak of 2006.

scholarly journals Molecular analysis of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1 isolated from wild birds and mammals in northern Germany

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 554-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried Weber ◽  
Timm Harder ◽  
Elke Starick ◽  
Martin Beer ◽  
Ortrud Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Wild Bird ◽  
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
H5n1 Isolate ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus

Analysis of the full-length sequences of all eight segments of the German wild-bird H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus index isolate, A/Cygnus cygnus/Germany/R65/2006, and an H5N1 isolate from a cat (A/cat/Germany/R606/2006) obtained during an outbreak in February 2006 revealed a very high similarity between these two sequences. One amino acid substitution in the PA gene, encoding a protein involved in virus RNA replication, and one amino acid substitution in the haemagglutinin (HA) protein were observed. Phylogenetic analyses of the HA and neuraminidase nucleotide sequences showed that avian influenza H5N1 isolates from the Astrakhan region located in southern Russia were the closest relatives. Reassortment events could be excluded in comparison with other ‘Qinghai-like’ H5N1 viruses. In addition, an H5N1 isolate originating from a single outbreak in poultry in Germany was found to be related closely to the H5N1 viruses circulating at that time in the wild-bird population.

scholarly journals Morphological Differences of Pancreatic Lesions in Mute Swans and Hens Naturally Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N8

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223
Author(s):  
Božić Biljana ◽  
Polaček Vladimir ◽  
Vučićević Ivana ◽  
Vidanović Dejan ◽  
Vasković Nikola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Viral Antigen ◽  
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽  
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus ◽  
Mute Swans

Abstract During the epizootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N8 in Serbia in the winter of 2016-2017, the highest percent of mortality due to this infection was recorded in mute swans (Cygnus olor). Besides mute swans, avian influenza virus subtype H5N8 was also diagnosed in a small number of hens in rural households. Pancreatic tissues from avian influenza H5N8 positive mute swans and hens that died during this outbreak were collected to determine the character of morphological lesions and the distribution of the viral antigen in this organ. Macroscopic examination of the pancreas of mute swans revealed hemorrhages as well as necrosis, while there were no macroscopic visible lesions in the pancreas of infected hens. Despite the different macroscopic finding, microscopic examination of the pancreas of both infected bird species revealed lesions in the form of acute pancreatitis and multifocal acinar necrosis. The viral antigen was abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of necrotic cells, as well as in macrophages in both examined bird species. Immunohistochemical expression of the viral antigen in the pancreas was strongly consistent with histological lesions. According to the above described findings, it could be concluded that highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 has a high affinity to pancreatic tissue in both mute swans and hens and the distribution and the character of the lesions in the pancreas are similar in both bird species.

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