Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5Nx) Virus of Clade 2.3.4.4b Emerging in Tibet, China, 2021

Yi Li; Xiang Li; Xinru Lv; Qiuzi Xu; Zhenliang Zhao; Siyuan Qin; Peng Peng; Fengyi Qu; Rongxiu Qin; Qing An; Meixi Wang; Zhen Zhang; Hua Luo; Xiangwei Zeng; Yulong Wang; Zhijun Hou; Heting Sun; Yajun Wang; Yu Xu; Yanbing Li; Hongliang Chai

doi:10.1128/spectrum.00643-22

Microbiology Spectrum (Jun 2022)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5Nx) Virus of Clade 2.3.4.4b Emerging in Tibet, China, 2021

Yi Li,
Xiang Li,
Xinru Lv,
Qiuzi Xu,
Zhenliang Zhao,
Siyuan Qin,
Peng Peng,
Fengyi Qu,
Rongxiu Qin,
Qing An,
Meixi Wang,
Zhen Zhang,
Hua Luo,
Xiangwei Zeng,
Yulong Wang,
Zhijun Hou,
Heting Sun,
Yajun Wang,
Yu Xu,
Yanbing Li,
Hongliang Chai

Affiliations

Yi Li: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Xiang Li: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Xinru Lv: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Qiuzi Xu: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Zhenliang Zhao: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Siyuan Qin: Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
Peng Peng: Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
Fengyi Qu: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Rongxiu Qin: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Qing An: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Meixi Wang: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Zhen Zhang: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Hua Luo: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Xiangwei Zeng: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Yulong Wang: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Zhijun Hou: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Heting Sun: Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
Yajun Wang: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China
Yu Xu: Biological Disaster Control and Prevention Center, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, China
Yanbing Li: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Harbin, China
Hongliang Chai: Northeast Forestry University, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Harbin, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00643-22
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 3

Abstract

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ABSTRACT H5N8 and H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of clade 2.3.4.4b were isolated from dead migratory birds and fecal samples collected in Tibet, China, in May 2021. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the viruses isolated in this study may have spread from wintering or stopover grounds of migratory birds in South Asia. We monitored two disparate clade 2.3.4.4b H5Nx viruses in migratory birds in Tibet during their breeding season. The data revealed that breeding grounds may exhibit a potential pooling effect among avian influenza viruses in different migratory populations. IMPORTANCE In this study, 15 H5N8 and two H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b were isolated from dead migratory birds and fecal samples in Tibet, China. Isolates of H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b have been rarely reported in China. Our findings highlight that breeding grounds may exhibit a potential pooling effect among avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in different migratory populations. In addition to intensification of the surveillance of AIVs in migratory birds in Tibet, China, international cooperation should be strengthened.

Published in Microbiology Spectrum

ISSN: 2165-0497 (Online)
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://journals.asm.org/journal/spectrum

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