H10Nx avian influenza viruses detected in wild birds in China pose potential threat to mammals
Xinru Lv,
Jingman Tian,
Xiang Li,
Xiaoli Bai,
Yi Li,
Minghui Li,
Qing An,
Xingdong Song,
Yu Xu,
Heting Sun,
Peng Peng,
Siyuan Qin,
Zhenliang Zhao,
Rongxiu Qin,
Qiuzi Xu,
Fengyi Qu,
Meixi Wang,
Hua Luo,
Zhen Zhang,
Xiangwei Zeng,
Yajun Wang,
Zhijun Hou,
Xiaoyu Zhou,
Yulong Wang,
Yanbing Li,
Hongliang Chai
Affiliations
Xinru Lv
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Jingman Tian
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Harbin 150069, China
Xiang Li
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Xiaoli Bai
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Harbin 150069, China
Yi Li
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Minghui Li
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Harbin 150069, China
Qing An
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Xingdong Song
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Yu Xu
Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, China
Heting Sun
Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, China
Peng Peng
Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, China
Siyuan Qin
Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, China
Zhenliang Zhao
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Rongxiu Qin
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Qiuzi Xu
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Fengyi Qu
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Meixi Wang
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Hua Luo
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Zhen Zhang
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Xiangwei Zeng
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Yajun Wang
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Zhijun Hou
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Xiaoyu Zhou
Siberian Tiger Park, Harbin 150028, China; Corresponding authors.
Yulong Wang
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Corresponding authors.
Yanbing Li
State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Harbin 150069, China; Corresponding authors.
Hongliang Chai
College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Corresponding authors.
H10 subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have been isolated from wild and domestic avian species worldwide and have occasionally crossed the species barrier to mammalian hosts. Fatal human cases of H10N8 infections and the recent detection of human H10N3 infections have drawn widespread public attention. In this study, 25 H10Nx viruses were isolated from wild waterfowl in China during a long-term surveillance of AIVs. We conducted phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of global H10 viruses to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of spread and the roles of different hosts in viral transmission. We found the pattern of AIV transmission from wild birds to poultry to humans, and Anatidae have acted as the seeding population in the spread of the virus. Phylogenetic incongruence indicated complex reassortment events and our isolates were divided into eight genotypes (G1–8). We also found that the HA genes of the G8 viruses belonged to the North American lineage, indicating that intercontinental gene flow has occurred. Their receptor-binding specificity showed that the G1/4/5/6/7/8 viruses bind to both human-type α2,6-linked sialic acid receptors and avian-type α2,3-linked sialic acid receptors. Mouse studies indicated that the H10Nx isolates replicated efficiently in the respiratory system without preadaptation, but showed low pathogenicity in mice. The H10Nx isolates showed no (G2/4/7) or low pathogenicity (G1/3/5/6/8) in chickens, and the G6 and G8 viruses could be transmitted to chickens through direct contact. The asymptomatic shedding of these wild-bird-origin H10Nx isolates in chickens and their good adaptation in mice should increase the ease of their transmission to humans, and they therefore pose a threat to public health. Our findings demonstrate a further understanding of wild bird-origin H10 viruses and provide information for the continuous surveillance of H10 subtype viruses.