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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #384950
Research Project: Intervention Strategies to Prevent and Control Disease Outbreaks Caused by Emerging Strains of Avian Influenza Viruses

Location: Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research

Title: Age-associated changes in recombinant H5 highly pathogenic and low pathogenic avian influenza hemagglutinin tissue binding in domestic poultry species

Author
item JERRY, CARMEN - California Animal Health & Food Laboratory
item STALLKNECHT, DAVID - Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
item LEYSON, CHRISTINA - Orise Fellow
item BERGHAUS, ROY - University Of Georgia
item JORDAN, BRIAN - University Of Georgia
item Pantin Jackwood, Mary
item FRANCA, MONIQUE - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2021
Publication Date: 7/30/2021
Citation: Jerry, C., Stallknecht, D.E., Leyson, C., Berghaus, R., Jordan, B., Pantin Jackwood, M.J., Franca, M.S. 2021. Age-associated changes in recombinant H5 highly pathogenic and low pathogenic avian influenza hemagglutinin tissue binding in domestic poultry species. Animals. 11(8):2223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082223.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082223

Interpretive Summary: Avian influenza viruses remain a threat to poultry worldwide. The 2014 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to the culling of millions of commercial chickens and turkeys and death of various wild bird species. In this outbreak, older chickens and turkeys were more affected by disease than younger aged birds. In this study we evaluate differences in the influenza virus Hemagglutinin (HA) tissue binding across age groups, using recombinant HA (rHA) proteins generated using gene sequences from a low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) and a highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus. Respiratory and intestinal tissues from chickens, ducks, and turkeys of different ages were used to detect HA binding with protein histochemistry. There were species and tissue specific differences in the rHA binding among the age groups, however, only turkeys had significant differences in the HPAI virus rHA binding, with younger turkeys having higher levels of binding compared to the older birds. Similar species and tissues specific differences were seen among the age groups when using the LPAI virus HA, however, these differences were only significant in turkeys. Age-related differences in rHA binding of the LPAI and HPAI viruses may partially explain differences in host susceptibility to infection observed during avian influenza outbreaks and in experimental infection studies.

Technical Abstract: The 2014 outbreak of clade 2.3.4.4A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) led to the culling of millions of commercial chickens and turkeys and death of various wild bird species. In this outbreak, older chickens and turkeys were commonly infected, and succumbed to clinical disease compared to younger aged birds such chicken broilers. Some experimental studies using waterfowl species have shown age related differences in susceptibility to clinical disease with HPAI viruses. Here, we evaluate differences in H5 Hemagglutinin (HA) tissue binding across age groups, using recombinant H5 HA (rHA) proteins generated using gene sequences from low pathogenic [A/mallard/MN/410/2000(H5N2 (LPAIV)] and a HPAIV [A/Northern pintail/Washington/40964/2014(H5N2)] influenza A virus (IAV). Respiratory and intestinal tracts from chickens, ducks (Mallard, Pekin, Muscovy) and turkeys of different age groups were used to detect HA binding with protein histochemistry, which was quantified as the median area of binding (MAB) used for statistical analysis. There were species and tissue specific differences in the rHA binding among the age groups, however, only turkeys had significant overall differences in the HPAIV rHA binding in the respiratory tract, with younger turkeys having higher levels of binding compared to the older group. Also, in the intestinal tract, younger turkeys had higher levels of binding compared to the older birds. Using LPAIV, similar species and tissues specific differences were seen among the age groups, however, only turkeys had overall significant differences in the respiratory tract MAB, with the older birds having higher levels of binding compared to the younger group. No age-related differences were seen in the overall intestinal tract rHA binding. Age-related differences in rHA binding of the LPAIV and HPAIV demonstrated in this study may partially, but not completely, explain differences in host susceptibility to infection observed during avian influenza outbreaks and in experimental infection studies.