Genome sequences of a H9N2 avian influenza virus strain found in Pakistan in 2017

Authors: LEE, DONG-HUN - University Of Connecticut; Swayne, David; CRIADO, MIRIA - Orise Fellow; Killmaster, Lindsay; IQBAL, SHUMAILA - University Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences; RASHID, HAMAD BIN - University Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences; CHAUDHRY, MAMOONA - University Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2019
Publication Date: 7/11/2019
Citation: Lee, D., Swayne, D.E., Criado, M.F., Killmaster, L.F., Iqbal, S., Rashid, H., Chaudhry, M. 2019. Genome sequences of a H9N2 avian influenza virus strain found in Pakistan in 2017. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 8(28):e00433-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00433-19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00433-19

Interpretive Summary: Avian influenza of H9N2 subtype causes disease in poultry throughout Asia and Africa. In 2017, we isolated a H9N2 avian influenza virus in Pakistan from chickens of the G1-lineage. This virus was related to prior H9N2 viruses from Pakistan and has some genetic markers that can potentially be infectious for mammals.

Technical Abstract: In 2017, we isolated a H9N2 avian influenza virus in Pakistan. Genetic analysis showed that the A/chicken/Pakistan/SI36/2017(H9N2) isolate belongs to the G1-lineage. In addition, this isolate possessed mammalian host–specific mutations which could possibly favor interspecies transmission, suggesting that Pakistan H9N2 viruses are still potentially infectious for mammals.