Pathogenicity and genetic characterisation of a novel reassortant, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N6 virus isolated in Korea, 2017

Euro Surveill. 2018 Feb;23(7):18-00045. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.7.18-00045.

Abstract

We investigated influenza A(H5N6) viruses from migratory birds in Chungnam and Gyeonggi Provinces, South Korea following a reported die-off of poultry in nearby provinces in November 2017. Genetic analysis and virulence studies in chickens and ducks identified our isolate from December 2017 as a novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. It resulted from reassortment between the highly virulent H5N8 strain from Korea with the N6 gene from a low-pathogenic H3N6 virus from the Netherlands.

Keywords: H5N6; Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI); Influenza A virus; Reassortant; South Korea; Virulence.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Migration
  • Animals
  • Chickens / virology*
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Ducks / virology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / classification
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / genetics*
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / pathogenicity*
  • Influenza A virus / genetics
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification
  • Influenza A virus / pathogenicity*
  • Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
  • Influenza in Birds / pathology
  • Influenza in Birds / virology*
  • Netherlands
  • Phylogeny
  • Poultry Diseases / epidemiology
  • Poultry Diseases / pathology
  • Poultry Diseases / virology
  • Reassortant Viruses* / classification
  • Reassortant Viruses* / genetics
  • Reassortant Viruses* / isolation & purification
  • Reassortant Viruses* / pathogenicity
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Seasons
  • Virulence*
  • Virus Replication