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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248412
Title: Increased virulence in ducks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses from Egypt

Author
item Pantin Jackwood, Mary
item Wasilenko, Jamie
item Suarez, David
item Swayne, David
item Rue, Cary

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2010
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Pantin Jackwood, M.J., Wasilenko, J.L., Suarez, D.L., Swayne, D.E., Rue, C.A. 2010. Increased virulence in ducks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses from Egypt [abstract]. American Association of Avian Pathologists Annual Meeting, August 1-4, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The pathogenicity of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in domestic ducks has increased over time. These changes in virulence have been reported with viruses from countries with high population of domestic ducks. Since 2006, H5N1 HPAI outbreaks in Egypt have been occurring in poultry including domestic ducks. Vaccination is being used for control of HPAI, but outbreaks continue happening even in vaccinated birds. In this study, we examined the pathogenicity in Pekin ducks of seven H5N1 HPAI viruses from Egypt, isolated from 2006 to 2009, and found that some of these viruses were very pathogenic. We conducted sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of these viruses in to order to detect changes that might explain the increase observed in pathogenicity.