Pathotyping and Genetic Characterization of Avian Avulavirus-1 and Low Pathogenicity H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Punjab, Pakistan
Pathotyping and Genetic Characterization of Avian Avulavirus-1 and Low Pathogenicity H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Punjab, Pakistan
Irfan Irshad1, Asim Aslam1,*, Muhammad Yasin Tipu1, Kamran Ashraf2, Beenish Zahid3 and Abdul Wajid4
ABSTRACT
Virulent strains of AAvV-1s and low-pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza viruses are presently endemic in Pakistan and repeated outbreaks are continuously being reported with high mortality in poultry and non-poultry avian species. In this study, five AAvV-1s have been pathotyped and genetically characterized from vaccinated birds collected between 2013-14. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the isolates belonged to sub-genotype VIIi with high similarity of 97.9 to 99.8% with similar viruses in this clade. Analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences of the two AIV was performed and phylogenetic analysis reveals genetically closely-related to H9N2 viruses classified into Mideast group-B and sub-lineage B2. The two strains classified as LPAIV in poultry based on amino acid sequence at the proteolytic cleavage-site of the HA gene with PAKSSR/G. Our findings highlight the potential risk of ND and AI in poultry and continued active surveillance is needed to monitor the transmission of these viruses.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
February 2020
Vol. 52, Iss. 1, Pages 1-424
