Five distinct reassortants of H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses affected Japan during the winter of 2016-2017.

Virology

Division of Transboundary Animal Disease, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan; Thailand-Japan Zoonotic Diseases Collaboration Center, Kasetklang, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1, Yanagito, Gifu, Gifu 501-1112, Japan. Electronic address:

Published: December 2017

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study sequenced the genomes of 89 H5N6 avian influenza viruses from Japan and 117 from Japan and Russia during 2016-2017 to trace their evolutionary pathway.
  • Phylogenetic analysis revealed at least 5 different genotypes of H5N6, with Japanese strains sharing a common ancestor across most genomic segments.
  • Findings indicate that migratory birds played a crucial role in spreading and diversifying these H5N6 strains, with evidence of genetic reassortment from Chinese viruses.

Article Abstract

To elucidate the evolutionary pathway, we sequenced the entire genomes of 89 H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) isolated in Japan during winter 2016-2017 and 117 AIV/HPAIVs isolated in Japan and Russia. Phylogenetic analysis showed that at least 5 distinct genotypes of H5N6 HPAIVs affected poultry and wild birds during that period. Japanese H5N6 isolates shared a common genetic ancestor in 6 of 8 genomic segments, and the PA and NS genes demonstrated 4 and 2 genetic origins, respectively. Six gene segments originated from a putative ancestral clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 virus that was a possible genetic reassortant among Chinese clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 HPAIVs. In addition, 2 NS clusters and a PA cluster in Japanese H5N6 HPAIVs originated from Chinese HPAIVs, whereas 3 distinct AIV-derived PA clusters were evident. These results suggest that migratory birds were important in the spread and genetic diversification of clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HPAIVs.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.035DOI Listing

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