Evidence for flock transmission of individual subtypes and strains of avian influenza viruses: A monitoring study of wild birds in Kazakhstan

• Published in: Virus research Vol. 320; p. 198898
• Main Authors: Sultankulova, Kulyaisan T., Dzhekebekov, Kuanysh K., Orynbayev, Mukhit B., Burashev, Yerbol D., Melisbek, Aibarys M., Barmak, Sabyrkhan M., Kozhabergenov, Nurlan S., Issabek, Aisha U., Chervyakova, Olga V., Namet, Aidar M., Zakarya, Kunsulu D., Fereidouni, Sasan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.10.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Wild; Australia; Avian influenza virus; Birds; H3N8 subtype; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype - genetics; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan - epidemiology; Orthomyxoviridae; Phylogenetic analysis; Phylogeny; Wild birds monitoring; Australia; Kazakhstan; Phylogenetic analysis; Avian influenza virus; Wild birds monitoring; H3N8 subtype; Kazakhstan
• ISSN: 0168-1702; 1872-7492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198898

•Reassortants of Asian and European lineages of H3N8 subtype avian influenza viruses simultaneously circulated in wild birds in Kazakhstan.•A flock unit of migratory birds may carry closely related strains/subtypes of avian influenza viruses over long distances.•In 2018–2019, H3N8 subtype avian influenza viruses were the major subtype circulating in wild birds in Kazakhstan. An active surveillance study of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in wild birds was carried out in Kazakhstan in 2018–2019. In total, 866 samples were collected from wild birds and analyzed for influenza viruses using molecular and virological tests. Genome segments of Asian, European, and Australian lineages were detected in 25 (4.6%) out of 541 waterfowl samples positive for subtype H3N8, and in two (0.6%) out of 325 H3N8 positive samples from terrestrial birds. No highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV) was detected. The results indicated transmission of closely related strains or identical subtypes of AIVs by a flock-unit of migratory birds or annual cyclical pattern of subtype dominance. The simultaneous circulation of genome segments of the Asian, European and Australian genetic lineages of H3N8 AIVs in wild birds in Kazakhstan indicated the important role of Central Asia as a transmission hub of AI viruses linking the East Asian migratory flyways with European flyways and vice versa.