Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A(H5N6), Japan, November 2016

Masatoshi Okamatsu; Makoto Ozawa; Kosuke Soda; Hiroki Takakuwa; Atsushi Haga; Takahiro Hiono; Aya Matsuu; Yuko Uchida; Ritsuko Iwata; Keita Matsuno; Masakazu Kuwahara; Toshiyo Yabuta; Tatsufumi Usui; Hiroshi Ito; Manabu Onuma; Yoshihiro Sakoda; Takehiko Saito; Koichi Otsuki; Toshihiro Ito; Hiroshi Kida

doi:10.3201/eid2304.161957

Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus A(H5N6), Japan, November 2016

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Apr;23(4):691-695. doi: 10.3201/eid2304.161957.

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) A(H5N6) were concurrently introduced into several distant regions of Japan in November 2016. These viruses were classified into the genetic clade 2.3.4.4c and were genetically closely related to H5N6 HPAIVs recently isolated in South Korea and China. In addition, these HPAIVs showed further antigenic drift.

Keywords: H5N6 subtype; Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus; Japan; influenza; viruses; zoonoses.

MeSH terms

Animals
Birds
Influenza A virus / genetics*
Influenza A virus / pathogenicity*
Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
Influenza in Birds / mortality
Influenza in Birds / virology*
Japan
Phylogeny