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Cana A, Zecchin B, Merovci X, Fusaro A, Giussani E, Heta S, Krstevski K, Mehmetukaj D, Goga I, Hulaj B, Murati B, Terregino C, Dodovski A. Emergence and Persistent Circulation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A (H5N8) in Kosovo, May 2021-May 2022. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2226. [PMID: 37764070 PMCID: PMC10534373 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4b in Kosovo on 19 May 2021. The outbreak consisted of three phases: May-June 2021, September-November 2021, and January-May 2022. In total, 32 backyards and 10 commercial holdings tested positive for the virus. Interestingly, the third and last phase of the outbreak coincided with the massive H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b epidemic in Europe. Phylogenetic analyses of 28 viral strains from Kosovo revealed that they were closely related to the H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4.b viruses that had been circulating in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, and Russia in early 2021. Whole genome sequencing of the 25 and partial sequencing of three H5N8 viruses from Kosovo showed high nucleotide identity, forming a distinctive cluster and suggesting a single introduction. The results of the network analysis were in accordance with the three epidemic waves and suggested that the viral diffusion could have been caused by secondary spreads among farms and/or different introductions of the same virus from wild birds. The persistent circulation of the same virus over a one-year period highlights the potential risk of the virus becoming endemic, especially in settings with non-adequate biosecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armend Cana
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
- UBT—Higher Education Institution, Lagjja Kalabria, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Bianca Zecchin
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Xhavit Merovci
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Alice Fusaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Edoardo Giussani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Sadik Heta
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Kiril Krstevski
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Lazar Pop Trajkov 5-7, MK-1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Dafina Mehmetukaj
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Izedin Goga
- Agricultural and Veterinary Faculty, University of Prishtina, Bulevardi Bill Clinton, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Beqe Hulaj
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Bafti Murati
- Kosovo Food and Veterinary Agency, Industrial Zone, 10 000 Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Calogero Terregino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Venezie (IZSVe), 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Aleksandar Dodovski
- Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Lazar Pop Trajkov 5-7, MK-1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
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Jerry CF, Crossley B, Rejmanek D, Stoute S. Diagnostic Detection of H7N3 Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in a Commercial Game Bird Flock. Avian Dis 2023; 67:284-289. [PMID: 39126417 DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-d-22-00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) H7N3 was diagnosed in a flock of commercially raised Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) breeder hens. The birds were submitted with an initial complaint of a drop in egg production and watery droppings. Initial PCR testing of the flock for avian influenza (AI) was negative; however, mortality started increasing drastically, prompting further examination and the submission of more birds to the diagnostic laboratory. On antemortem examination, the birds appeared lethargic, with ruffled feathers, and had labored breathing. Gross examination revealed poor body condition, moderate dehydration, splenomegaly, ovarian regression, and airsacculitis. Several hens produced thin-shelled and shell-less eggs. Microscopically, lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis with neuronal cell necrosis, fibrinoheterophilic pneumonia, and splenic lymphoid depletion with amyloid deposition were seen. AI virus was detected in a follow-up submission and characterized as LPAI H7N3. Quail are a species of interest in the pathobiology of avian influenza viruses, underlined by the ability to serve as an amplification host.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Jerry
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, Turlock, CA 95380,
| | - B Crossley
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - D Rejmanek
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Davis Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - S Stoute
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, Turlock Branch, University of California, Davis, Turlock, CA 95380
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Azeem S, Guo B, Sun D, Killian ML, Baroch JA, Yoon KJ. Evaluation of PCR-based hemagglutinin subtyping as a tool to aid in surveillance of avian influenza viruses in migratory wild birds. J Virol Methods 2022; 308:114594. [PMID: 35931229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The surveillance of migratory wild birds (MWBs) for avian influenza virus (AIV) allows detecting the emergence of highly pathogenic AIV that can infect domestic poultry and mammals, new subtypes, and antigenic/genetic variants. The current AIV surveillance system for MWBs in the United States is based on virus isolation (VI) followed by sequencing isolates. This system primarily focuses on the early detection of H5 and H7 AIVs. However, it is suboptimal in assessing diverse AIV subtypes at any given time because of the low VI success rate. To improve such a shortfall, a SYBR® Green-based real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR) panel was developed for direct HA subtyping of AIVs in oropharyngeal-cloacal (OPC) swabs from MWBs. Under optimal conditions, the PCR panel detected AIVs of all 16 different HA subtypes with an average limit of detection of 102.6 copies/reaction (2 μl of extract). In testing 90 OPC swabs from 13 MWB species, the PCR provided a significantly faster turnaround of results and demonstrated the presence of more subtypes and concurrent infection among MWBs compared to what the current surveillance testing algorithm showed. In conclusion, newly developed SYBR® Green rtRT-PCR panel can be a useful tool for monitoring MWBs for AIVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahan Azeem
- Veterinary Mirobiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
| | - Baoqing Guo
- Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
| | - Dong Sun
- Veterinary Mirobiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
| | - Mary L Killian
- Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, USDA, Ames, IA, United States.
| | - John A Baroch
- National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Kyoung-Jin Yoon
- Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States.
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Horwood PF, Horm SV, Suttie A, Thet S, Y P, Rith S, Sorn S, Holl D, Tum S, Ly S, Karlsson EA, Tarantola A, Dussart P. Co-circulation of Influenza A H5, H7, and H9 Viruses and Co-infected Poultry in Live Bird Markets, Cambodia. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:352-355. [PMID: 29350140 PMCID: PMC5782910 DOI: 10.3201/eid2402.171360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal surveillance of 2 live bird markets in Cambodia revealed year-round, high co-circulation of H5, H7, and H9 influenza viruses. We detected influenza A viruses in 51.3% of ducks and 39.6% of chickens, and co-infections, mainly by H5 and H9 viruses, in 0.8% of ducks and 4.5% of chickens.
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Riems influenza a typing array (RITA): An RT-qPCR-based low density array for subtyping avian and mammalian influenza a viruses. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27211. [PMID: 27256976 PMCID: PMC4891686 DOI: 10.1038/srep27211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid and sensitive diagnostic approaches are of the utmost importance for the detection of humans and animals infected by specific influenza virus subtype(s). Cascade-like diagnostics starting with the use of pan-influenza assays and subsequent subtyping devices are normally used. Here, we demonstrated a novel low density array combining 32 TaqMan® real-time RT-PCR systems in parallel for the specific detection of the haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes of avian and porcine hosts. The sensitivity of the newly developed system was compared with that of the pan-influenza assay, and the specificity of all RT-qPCRs was examined using a broad panel of 404 different influenza A virus isolates representing 45 different subtypes. Furthermore, we analysed the performance of the RT-qPCR assays with diagnostic samples obtained from wild birds and swine. Due to the open format of the array, adaptations to detect newly emerging influenza A virus strains can easily be integrated. The RITA array represents a competitive, fast and sensitive subtyping tool that requires neither new machinery nor additional training of staff in a lab where RT-qPCR is already established.
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Steensels M, Vangeluwe D, Linden A, Houdart P, van den Berg TP, Lambrecht B. One Decade of Active Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance in Belgium Showed a Higher Viroprevalence in Hunter-Harvested Than in Live-Ringed Birds. Avian Dis 2016; 60:387-93. [DOI: 10.1637/11128-050715-resnote] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Kalthoff D, Bogs J, Harder T, Grund C, Pohlmann A, Beer M, Hoffmann B. Nucleic acid-based detection of influenza A virus subtypes H7 and N9 with a special emphasis on the avian H7N9 virus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 19. [PMID: 24650867 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.10.20731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In 2013, a novel influenza A virus of subtype H7N9 was transmitted from avian sources to humans in China, causing severe illness and substantial mortality. Rapid and sensitive diagnostic approaches are the basis of epidemiological studies and of utmost importance for the detection of infected humans and animals. We developed various quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for (i) the generic detection of the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of H7 viruses or the neuraminidase (NA) gene of N9 viruses, and (ii) the specific detection of HA and NA of the novel avian H7N9/2013 virus. The sensitivity of the newly developed assays was compared with previously published PCRs, and the specificity of all RT-qPCRs was examined using a panel of 42 different H7 and 16 different N9 isolates. Furthermore, we analysed the performance of the RT-qPCR assays with dilution series and diagnostic samples obtained from animal experiments. Our study provides a comprehensive set of RT-qPCR assays for the reliable detection of the novel avian H7N9 virus, with high sensitivity and improved and tailored specificity values compared with published assays. Finally, we also present data about the robustness of a duplex assay for the simultaneous detection of HA and NA of the avian influenza H7N9/2013 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kalthoff
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
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