Intercontinental spread of Asian-origin H7 avian influenza viruses by captive bird trade in 1990`s

Authors: LEE, DONG HUN - Orise Fellow; KILLIAN, MARY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); TORCHETTI, MIA - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); BROWN, IAN - Animal & Plant Health Agency Apha; LEWIS, NICOLA - Animal & Plant Health Agency Apha; BERHANE, YOHANNES - Canadian Food Inspection Agency-National Centre For Foreign Animal Disease; Swayne, David

Submitted to: Infection, Genetics and Evolution
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2019
Publication Date: 5/1/2019
Citation: Lee, D., Killian, M., Torchetti, M., Brown, I., Lewis, N., Berhane, Y., Swayne, D.E. 2019. Intercontinental spread of Asian-origin H7 avian influenza viruses by captive bird trade in 1990`s. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 73:146-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2019.04.028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2019.04.028

Interpretive Summary: Wild bird migration and illegal trade of infected poultry, eggs, and poultry products have been associated with the spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV). During 1992-1996, Asian-origin H7N1 and H7N8 low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV) were identified from exotic and pet birds kept in aviaries or quarantine stations in Europe, Asia and North America. In this study, based on complete gene sequencing and analysis, the H7 AIV had their origin in Asia. All H7N1 and H7N8 viruses were LPAIV except one H7N1 highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV), that was isolated from a shipment of Pekin robins that originated from Asia. Our results support the continued need for regulation of the exotic and pet bird trade to reduce the risk of introduction and dissemination of both LPAIV and HPAIV throughout the world.

Technical Abstract: Wild bird migration and illegal trade of infected poultry, eggs, and poultry products have been associated with the spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV). During 1992-1996, the Asian-origin H7N1 and H7N8 low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV) were identified from exotic and pet birds; such as Pekin robin, magpie robin, flycatcher species, softbill species, parakeet species, sun conure, painted conure, fairy blue bird, and common iora, kept in aviaries or quarantine stations in England, The Netherlands, Singapore and the United States (U.S.). In this study, we sequenced these H7 viruses isolated from quarantine facilities and aviaries using next-generation sequencing and conducted a comparative phylogenetic analysis of complete genome sequences to elucidate spread patterns. The complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis suggested that H7 viruses originated from a common source even though they were identified in distant geographical regions. All H7N1 and H7N8 viruses were LPAIV except a H7N1 highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV), A/Pekin robin/California/30412/94(H7N1) virus. Our results support the continued need for regulation of the exotic and pet bird trade to reduce the risk of introduction and dissemination of both LPAIV and HPAIV throughout the world.