Assessing pathogenicity potential of H5N1 avian influenza virus strains isolated from Indonesian waterfowl in chickens and Balb-c mice

Abstract

In Indonesia, the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been including in domestic poultry since 2006. In this study, the pathogenicity of two isolates of H5N1 (A/goose/Bojonggenteng/IPB2-RS and A/duck/Parung/ IPB8-RS), which had been isolated from waterfowls, was assessed in chickens and Balb-c mice. The egg infectious dose EID50 results were high in chickens. The virus killed the chickens within 24 hours after post infection and it showed maximum IVPI value. The virus antigens were detected in chicken internal organs. Further assessment using a biological test in Balb-c mice was performed to determine the infection effectiveness and pathogenicity phenotype. Two virus isolates were highly pathogenic and the viruses were detected in the mice core organs. This result indicated that the virus was able to replicate in mammals. Moreover, the avian influenza viruses were found genetically and biologically pathogenic.

Keywords

• avian influenza virus
• H5N1
• pathogenicity
• waterfowl