Characterization of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Viruses from Poultry in Libya

• DOI: 10.1637/11068-032215-resnote.1
• Publication Date: 2015-08-31T20:28:50Z
• Authors: Abdulwahab Kammon; Alireza Heidari; Abdunaser Dayhum; Ibrahim Eldaghayes; Monier Sharif; Isabella Monne; Giovanni Cattoli; Abdulatif Asheg; Milad Farhat; Elforjani Kraim
• Keywords: Newcastle Disease; Highly pathogenic; Lineage (genetic); H5N1 genetic structure

On March 2013, the Libyan poultry industry faced severe outbreaks due to mixed infections of APMV-1 (Newcastle disease) and low pathogenic avian influenza (AI) H9N2 subtype which were causing high mortality great economic losses. isolated characterized. Genetic sequencing APMV-1/chicken/Libya/13VIR/ 7225-1/2013 isolate revealed presence a velogenic belonging lineage 5 (GRRRQKR*F Lin.5) or genotype VII in class II, according nomenclature use. Three AI viruses subtype, namely A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-2/2013, A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-3/2013, A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-5/2013, found belong G1 lineage. Analysis amino acid sequences showed that analyzed contained Leu at position 226 (H3 numbering) receptor binding site HA, responsible for human virus-like specificity. 2014, an outbreak highly (HPAI) virus H5N1 was diagnosed backyard farm eastern region Libya. The (A/chicken/Libya/14VIR2749-16/2014) detected by real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR). characterization HA gene identified pathogenic, belonged 2.2.1 lineage, clustered with recent Egyptian viruses. This study two subtypes, HPAI H9N2, are major interest public animal health. Considering these findings, more investigations must be undertaken establish implement adequate surveillance programs; this would allow better epidemiology Libya evaluation current vaccination strategies.