Five distinct reassortants of H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses affected Japan during the winter of 2016-2017

Nobuhiro Takemae; Ryota Tsunekuni; Kirill Sharshov; Taichiro Tanikawa; Yuko Uchida; Hiroshi Ito; Kosuke Soda; Tatsufumi Usui; Ivan Sobolev; Alexander Shestopalov; Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi; Junki Mine; Toshihiro Ito; Takehiko Saito

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.035

Five distinct reassortants of H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses affected Japan during the winter of 2016-2017

Virology. 2017 Dec:512:8-20. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.035. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Affiliations

¹ Division of Transboundary Animal Disease, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan; Thailand-Japan Zoonotic Diseases Collaboration Center, Kasetklang, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
² Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, 2, Timakova street, Novosibirsk 630117, Russia.
³ The Avian Zoonosis Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami, Tottori, Tottori 680-8550, Japan.
⁴ Division of Transboundary Animal Disease, National Institute of Animal Health, NARO, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0856, Japan; Thailand-Japan Zoonotic Diseases Collaboration Center, Kasetklang, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1, Yanagito, Gifu, Gifu 501-1112, Japan. Electronic address: taksaito@affrc.go.jp.

PMID: 28892736
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.035

Abstract

To elucidate the evolutionary pathway, we sequenced the entire genomes of 89 H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) isolated in Japan during winter 2016-2017 and 117 AIV/HPAIVs isolated in Japan and Russia. Phylogenetic analysis showed that at least 5 distinct genotypes of H5N6 HPAIVs affected poultry and wild birds during that period. Japanese H5N6 isolates shared a common genetic ancestor in 6 of 8 genomic segments, and the PA and NS genes demonstrated 4 and 2 genetic origins, respectively. Six gene segments originated from a putative ancestral clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 virus that was a possible genetic reassortant among Chinese clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 HPAIVs. In addition, 2 NS clusters and a PA cluster in Japanese H5N6 HPAIVs originated from Chinese HPAIVs, whereas 3 distinct AIV-derived PA clusters were evident. These results suggest that migratory birds were important in the spread and genetic diversification of clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HPAIVs.

Keywords: Clade 2.3.4.4; H5N6; Highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses; Poultry; Wild bird.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Chickens*
Genetic Variation
Influenza A virus / genetics*
Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*
Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
Influenza in Birds / virology*
Japan / epidemiology
Phylogeny
Reassortant Viruses / genetics*
Reassortant Viruses / isolation & purification