Molecular analysis of avian H7 influenza viruses circulating in Eurasia in 1999–2005: detection of multiple reassortant virus genotypes

• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.83111-0
• Publication Date: 2007-12-18T16:33:35Z
• Authors: Laura Campitelli; Angela Di Martino; Domenico Spagnolo; Gavin J. D. Smith; Livia Di Trani; Marzia Facchini; Maria Alessandra ...; Emanuela Foni; Chiara Chiapponi; Ana Moreno Martin; Honglin Chen; Yi Guan; Mauro Delogu; Isabella Donatelli
• Keywords: Reassortment; H5N1 genetic structure; Natural reservoir

Avian influenza infections by high and low pathogenicity H7 viruses have caused several outbreaks in European poultry recent years, also resulting human infections. Although some cases the source of strains from domestic was shown to be circulating wild bird reservoir, a thorough characterization entire genome both Eurasian birds, their evolutionary relationships, has not been conducted. In our study, we analysed isolated ducks Italy southern China compared them with those reared terrestrial such as chicken turkey. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that haemagglutinin genes were all closely related each other, whereas remaining could divided into two or more phylogenetic groups. Almost year different reassortant identified at least years than one genotype co-circulated. A precursor waterfowl for most gene segments viruses. Our data suggest reassortment allows avian viruses, natural increase genetic diversity. turn this might help colonize wider range hosts, including poultry.