Genotypic lineages and restriction fragment length polymorphism of canine distemper virus isolates in Thailand.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is known to cause multisystemic disease in all families of terrestrial carnivores. Attenuated live vaccines have been used to control CDV in a variety of species for many decades, yet a number of CDV infections in vaccinated dogs are still observed. The aims of this study were to investigate the genetic diversity of CDV lineages based on phosphoprotein (P), hemagglutinin (H) and fusion protein (F) genes and to develop the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique for effective differentiation among individual wild-type and vaccine lineages in Thailand.

Genetic characterization of Thai swine influenza viruses after the introduction of pandemic H1N1 2009.

Pandemic H1N1 2009 (pH1N1), influenza virus containing triple reassortant internal genes (TRIG) from avian, human, and swine influenza viruses emerged in 2009 as a highly infectious virus that was able to be transmitted from humans to pigs. During June 2010-May 2012, influenza virus surveillance was conducted in Thai pig population. Twenty-three samples (1.

Experimental infection with a Thai reassortant swine influenza virus of pandemic H1N1 origin induced disease.

Background: Following the emergence of the pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus in 2009 in humans, this novel virus spread into the swine population. Pigs represent a potential host for this virus and can serve as a mixing vessel for genetic mutations of the influenza virus. Reassortant viruses eventually emerged from the 2009 pandemic and were reported in swine populations worldwide including Thailand.

Hepatitis E virus genotype 3f sequences from pigs in Thailand, 2011-2012.

Phylogenetic analysis of partial ORF1 and ORF2 genes of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains from pigs in Thailand during 2011-2012 was performed. The result indicated that the current Thai strains belonged to the genotype 3 subgroup 3f, which were similar to the previous HEVs circulating in humans in Thailand.

Wild birds and increased transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among poultry, Thailand.

Since the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 virus, wild birds have been suspected of transmitting this virus to poultry. On January 23, 2004, the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand informed the World Health Organization of an avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreak. To determine the epidemiology of this viral infection and its relation to poultry outbreaks in Thailand from 2004 through 2007, we investigated how wild birds play a role in transmission.

Wild ducks as long-distance vectors of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1).

Wild birds have been implicated in the expansion of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) outbreaks across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa (in addition to traditional transmission by infected poultry, contaminated equipment, and people). Such a role would require wild birds to excrete virus in the absence of debilitating disease. By experimentally infecting wild ducks, we found that tufted ducks, Eurasian pochards, and mallards excreted significantly more virus than common teals, Eurasian wigeons, and gadwalls; yet only tufted ducks and, to a lesser degree, pochards became ill or died.

The single-step multiplex reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting H5 and H7 avian influenza A viruses.

Avian influenza (AI) A virus subtypes H5 and H7 cause severe disease in domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys. Moreover, H5 and H7 AI A viruses can cross the species barrier from poultry to humans. In the present study, we have developed a single-step multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) for detecting H5 and H7 AI A viruses.

Single-step multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for influenza A virus subtype H5N1 detection.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 causes a rapidly fatal systemic disease in domestic poultry and spreads directly from poultry to humans. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, cost-saving and effective method for influenza A virus subtype H5N1 detection. The selected primer set was used in single-step RT-PCR for simultaneous detection in multiplex format of the 276-, 189-, and 131-bp fragments, corresponding to sequences specific for M, H5 and N1.

Avian influenza H5N1 in tigers and leopards.

Influenza virus is not known to affect wild felids. We demonstrate that avian influenza A (H5N1) virus caused severe pneumonia in tigers and leopards that fed on infected poultry carcasses. This finding extends the host range of influenza virus and has implications for influenza virus epidemiology and wildlife conservation.