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Title: Surveillance and identification of influenza A viruses in wild aquatic birds in the Crimea, Ukraine (2006-2008)

Author
item KULAK, M - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item ILINYKH, F - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item ZAYKOVSKAYA, A - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item EPANCHINZEVA, A - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item EVSTAPHIEV, I - The Crimean Republican Sanitary Epidemiological Station
item TOVTUNEC, N - The Crimean Republican Sanitary Epidemiological Station
item SHARSHOV, K - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item DURIMANOV, A - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item PENKOVSKAYA, N - The Crimean Republican Sanitary Epidemiological Station
item SHESTOPALOV, A - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item LERMAN, I - Center For Integration Of Medicine And Innovative Technology (CIMIT)
item DROZDOV, I - State Research Of Virology And Biotechnology (VECTOR INSTITUTE)
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2010
Publication Date: 4/6/2010
Citation: Kulak, M.V., Ilinykh, F.A., Zaykovskaya, A.V., Epanchinzeva, A.V., Evstaphiev, I.L., Tovtunec, N.N., Sharshov, K.A., Durimanov, A.G., Penkovskaya, N.A., Shestopalov, A.M., Lerman, I., Drozdov, I.G., Swayne, D.E. 2010. Surveillance and identification of influenza A viruses in wild aquatic birds in the Crimea, Ukraine (2006-2008). Avian Diseases. 54:1086-1090.

Interpretive Summary: The presence and distribution of avian influenza (AI) viruses in wild aquatic birds of Asia is poorly understood. From March 2006 through November 2008, 20 avian influenza viruses were isolated in the Crimea region of Ukraine, with an overall virus isolation frequency of 3.3%. All the viruses were isolated from three species of ducks: Mallard, Wigeon and Garganey. The viruses were predominantly isolated during the fall sampling period. No H5N1 viruses were isolated, but viruses isolated included H3N1 (2), H3N6 (3), H3N8 (4), H4N6 (6), H5N2 (3), H7N8 (1) and H10N6 (1) subtypes. None of the isolates were able to produce disease in experiments with chickens. Based on genetic sequencing and analysis, the H5N2 and H7N8 isolates connected the Crimea region with AI viruses from Siberia and Europe.

Technical Abstract: The ecology of avian influenza (AI) viruses in wild aquatic birds of Asia is poorly understood. From March 2006 through November 2008, 20 avian influenza viruses were isolated in the Crimea region of Ukraine, with an overall virus isolation frequency of 3.3%. All the viruses were isolated from three species of dabbling ducks: Mallard (Anas platyrhyncha), Wigeon (Anas Penelope) and Garganey (Anas, querquedula). The viruses were predominantly isolated during the fall sampling period. All viruses were genetically and antigenically characterized. No H5N1 viruses were isolated, but other hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase subtypes were identified including H3N1 (2), H3N6 (3), H3N8 (4), H4N6 (6), H5N2 (3), H7N8 (1) and H10N6 (1) subtypes. All isolates were of low pathogenicity as determined by the intravenous pathogenicity index of 0.00. For H5N2 and H7N8 isolates HA gene was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis revealed ecological connection of the Crimea region with AI viruses from Siberia and Europe.