Isolation of mixed subtypes of influenza A virus from a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Virol J. 2010 Jul 28:7:174. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-7-174.

Abstract

From April 2007 to March 2008, cloacal swabs were obtained from 246 casualty raptors recovered by various wildlife rehabilitation centers in the United States. The swabs were placed in a virus transport medium and transported to the laboratory on ice packs. At the laboratory, the samples were pooled with each pool consisting of five samples. All pools (n = 50) were screened for the presence of avian influenza virus (AIV) using a real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR); one of the pools was found positive. All five samples in this pool were tested individually by rRT-PCR; one sample from a bald eagle was found positive. This sample was inoculated in embryonated chicken eggs for virus isolation and a hemagglutinating virus was isolated. Complete genome sequencing of the isolate revealed a mixed infection with H1N1 and H2N1 subtypes. Further analysis revealed that the PB1-F2 gene sequence of H1N1 virus had the N66S virulence-associated substitution. Further studies on ecology and epidemiology of AIV in raptors are needed to help understand their role in the maintenance and evolution of AIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • Cloaca / virology
  • Eagles / virology*
  • Genome, Viral
  • Influenza A virus / classification*
  • Influenza A virus / genetics
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza in Birds / virology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • United States
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Virulence
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virus Cultivation / methods

Substances

  • PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • Virulence Factors

Associated data

  • GENBANK/CY043314
  • GENBANK/CY043315
  • GENBANK/CY043316
  • GENBANK/CY043317
  • GENBANK/CY043318
  • GENBANK/CY043319
  • GENBANK/CY043320
  • GENBANK/CY043321
  • GENBANK/CY043322
  • GENBANK/CY043323
  • GENBANK/CY043324
  • GENBANK/CY043325
  • GENBANK/CY043326
  • GENBANK/CY043327
  • GENBANK/CY043328
  • GENBANK/CY043329
  • GENBANK/CY043330