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Title: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses reintroduced into South Korea by migratory waterfowl, 2014–2015

Author
item KWON, JUNG-HOON - Konkuk University
item LEE, DONG-HUN - Orise Fellow
item Swayne, David
item YUK, SEONG-SU - Konkuk University
item TSEREN-OCHIR, ERDENE-OCHIR - Konkuk University
item NOH, JIN-YONG - Konkuk University
item HONG, WOO-TACK - Konkuk University
item JEONG, JEI-HYUN - Konkuk University
item JEONG, SOL - Konkuk University
item GWON, GYEONG-BIN - Konkuk University
item SONG, CHANG-SEON - Konkuk University

Submitted to: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2015
Publication Date: 3/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62122
Citation: Kwon, J., Lee, D., Swayne, D.E., Yuk, S., Tseren-Ochir, E., Noh, J., Hong, W., Jeong, J., Jeong, S., Gwon, G., Song, C. 2016. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses reintroduced into South Korea by migratory waterfowl, 2014–2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 22(3):507-510.

Interpretive Summary: The H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses appeared in wild birds and poultry in Korea in winter of 2014 as a single group of closely related viruses. The viruses caused high death losses in poultry. In Fall 2014 and winter 2015, the H5N8 viruses reappeared in Korea, but as two genetically distinct groups; one group in wild birds and the other in poultry. The poultry viruses were close descendants of the previous outbreak viruses, but the wild bird viruses were genetically very different. This indicates divergent evolution of H5N8 viruses in two distinct ecosystems.

Technical Abstract: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses were isolated from migratory waterfowl in South Korea during all 2014–winter 2015, a recurrence after initial introduction in winter 2014. These reappeared viruses were phylogenetically distinct from isolates circulating in poultry farms in South Korea.