Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2017)

Reassortment of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Birds in Alaska before H5 Clade 2.3.4.4 Outbreaks

  • Nichola J. Hill,
  • Islam T.M. Hussein,
  • Kimberly R. Davis,
  • Eric J. Ma,
  • Timothy J. Spivey,
  • Andrew M. Ramey,
  • Wendy Blay Puryear,
  • Suman R. Das,
  • Rebecca A. Halpin,
  • Xudong Lin,
  • Nadia B. Fedorova,
  • David L. Suarez,
  • Walter M. Boyce,
  • Jonathan A. Runstadler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2304.161668
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 4
pp. 654 – 657

Abstract

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Sampling of mallards in Alaska during September 2014–April 2015 identified low pathogenic avian influenza A virus (subtypes H5N2 and H1N1) that shared ancestry with highly pathogenic reassortant H5N2 and H5N1 viruses. Molecular dating indicated reassortment soon after interhemispheric movement of H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4, suggesting genetic exchange in Alaska or surrounds before outbreaks.

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