H9N2 influenza viruses from birds used in falconry. Issue 6 (29th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wernery, Ulrich; Shanmuganatham, Karthik K.; Krylov, Petr S.; Joseph, Sunitha; Friedman, Kimberly; Krauss, Scott; Webster, Robert G.
• Is Part Of: Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Volume 7:Issue 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1241
• Page End: 1245
• Publication Date: 2013-07-29
• Subjects: Influenza -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Periodicals; Influenza, Human -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Virus Diseases -- Periodicals; Grippe -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Infections -- Périodiques; Maladies à virus -- Périodiques; 616.203
• DOI: 10.1111/irv.12143
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-2640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="irv12143-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="irv12143-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>H9N2 avian influenza viruses continue to spread in poultry and wild birds throughout Eurasia.</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12143-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To characterize H9N2 influenza viruses from pheasants, quail, and white‐bellied bustards (WBBs) used to train falcons in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12143-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Four H9N2 viruses were isolated from pheasants, quail, and WBB used for falconry in the UAE, and antigenic, molecular, phylogenetic analysis, and <italic>invivo</italic> characterization of H9N2 viruses were performed.</p> </sec> <sec id="irv12143-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results and conclusions</title> <p>The pheasant and WBB isolates were antigenically and molecularly clearly related and along with the quail isolates contained multiple "avian–human" substitutions. The release of smuggled H9N2‐infected birds for falconry may contribute to the spread of these viruses to wild birds, domestic poultry, and humans.</p> </sec> </abstract>