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Title: Evidence for genetic variation of Eurasian avian influenza viruses, subtype H15: The first report of an H15N7 virus

Author
item MUZYKA, DENYS - National Scientific Center
item Pantin Jackwood, Mary
item STARICK, ELKE - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item FEREIDOUNI, SASAN - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2015
Publication Date: 12/9/2015
Citation: Muzyka, D., Pantin Jackwood, M.J., Starick, E., Fereidouni, S. 2015. Evidence for genetic variation of Eurasian avian influenza viruses, subtype H15: The first report of an H15N7 virus. Archives of Virology. 161(3):605-612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2629-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-015-2629-2

Interpretive Summary: Waterfowl and shorebirds are the primary natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV) which comprise 16 hemagglutinin (HA) and 9 neuraminidase (NA) subtypes. An AIV subtype H15N7 was isolated from Mallard duck feces in 2010 during wild bird surveillance conducted in Ukraine. H15 subtypes are very uncommon and this particular subtype combination H15N7 has not been previously reported. Until now, only seven subtype H15 viruses have been isolated worldwide, six from Australia and one from the Russian Federation. By sequencing the H15N7 virus it was found that this virus and the Russian H15 virus were distinct from the Australian viruses, forming a separate Eurasian group. In addition, this new H15 isolate from Ukraine showed distinct genetic features compared to the Siberian H15 isolate, which indicates genetic variation of Eurasian H15 AIVs.

Technical Abstract: Since the first detection of H15 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in Australia in 1979, only seven H15 strains have been reported. A new H15 AIV was detected in Ukraine in 2010, carrying the unique HA-NA subtype combination H15N7. This virus replicated efficiently in chicken eggs, and antisera against it reacted strongly with the homologous antigen, but with lower titers when using the reference Australian antigen. The amino acid motifs of the HA cleavage site and receptor-binding site were different from those in the Australian viruses. The new virus, together with an H15 virus from Siberia from 2008, constitutes a new clade of H15 AIV isolates.