Evaluation of Immune Responses and Histopathological Effects against Gamma Irradiated Avian Influenza (Sub type H9N2) Vaccine on Broiler Chicken

Abstract Vaccination is a good strategy for the prevention of avian influenza virus. In this research Gamma Irradiated Avian Influenza (Sub type H9N2) Vaccine (GAIV) was prepared by 30 kGy irradiation and used for vaccination of broiler chickens. The purpose was a comparison of immune responses in the two routes of administration for the GAIV vaccine; intranasal and subcutaneously, use of Montanide ISA70 and Trehalose accompanied with irradiated vaccine and compare with formalin vaccine. The Influenza Virus A/Chicken/IRN/Ghazvin/2001/H9N2 was irradiated and used for vaccine formulation, and formalin inactivated AIV was used as conventional vaccine. Chickens were vaccinated by GAIV with and without Trehalose, GAIV and formalin vaccines with ISA70, two routes of administration were intranasal and subcutaneously. All the vaccinated chickens showed a significant increase in antibody titration. The most significant increase of antibody titration was in irradiated vaccine plus Trehalose groups intranasal and subcutaneously. After the first and second intranasal vaccination, the amount of IFN-gamma increased in the irradiated vaccine plus Trehalose group compared to other groups. However, most of the vaccinated groups did not show any significant increase of IFN-α concentration. Histopathological examination revealed lymphocyte infiltration (++), foci dispersed of hemorrhage and edema in intranasal vaccination groups and in addition to these, thickening of alveolar septa was observed in the injection groups. GAIV vaccine can be a good candidate for vaccine preparation, and Trehalose as a stabilizer protects viral antigenic proteins, also makes more absorbance of antigen by the inhalation route. In vaccinated chickens the ulcers in injected vaccines were lower than intranasal vaccines.

First detection of a G1-like H9N2 virus in Russia, 2018 / 대한수의학회지

Worldwide, avian influenza H9N2 viruses of different lineages are the most widespread viruses in poultry. However, to date, cases in Russia have not been documented. In this study, we report the first detection of a G1-like H9N2 virus from poultry sampled at live-bird markets in Russia (Far East region) during the winter of 2018 (isolate A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018). We assume there has been further circulation of the A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018 H9N2 virus in the Russian Far East with possible distribution to other regions or countries in 2018–2019.

Inhibition of the replication of H9N2 influenza virus in vivo by short-term repeated oral administration of chicken interferon α / 生物工程学报

To evaluate the optimal administration frequency for interferon-α (IFN-α) and the effect of its combined use with inactive virus on chicken flocks, the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET-22b-ChIFN-α was constructed and transferred into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) host bacteria to induce the expression of chicken IFN-α and to harvest recombinant proteins inclusion bodies. The expression of recombinant chicken IFN-α was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, and the results demonstrated that the chicken IFN-α (20 kDa) was highly expressed using the prokaryotic expression vector with a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL in the medium. Chicken IFN-α was diluted to 2.5×10⁴ U/fowls and administered to immunized specific-pathogen-free chickens orally in combination with inactivated H9N2 subtype influenza virus. Chicken that received chicken IFN-α were safe after three repeated immunizations (96 h). In addition, chicken IFN-α could induce higher levels of antiviral-related inducible genes in peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus of chicken flocks. The results of a challenge assay revealed that the lowest detoxification rates of chicken IFN-α ranged from three to five days, suggesting a higher capacity to resist H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus. The present study obtained the optimal immune frequency and immunization period for chicken IFN-α to provide theoretical support for the optimal clinical application of IFN-α.

Comparison of immunoadjuvant activities of four bursal peptides combined with H9N2 avian influenza virus vaccine

The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a central humoral immune organ unique to birds. Four bursal peptides (BP-I, BP-II, BP-III, and BP-IV) have been isolated and identified from the BF. In this study, the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV were examined in mice immunized with H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) vaccine. The results suggested that BP-I effectively enhanced cell-mediated immune responses, increased the secretion of Th1 (interferon gamma)- and Th2 (interleukin-4)-type cytokines, and induced an improved cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to the H9N2 virus. BP-II mainly elevated specific antibody production, especially neutralizing antibodies, and increased Th1- and Th2-type cytokine secretion. BP-III had no significant effect on antibody production or cell-mediated immune responses compared to those in the control group. A strong immune response at both the humoral and cellular levels was induced by BP-IV. Furthermore, a virus challenge experiment followed by H&E staining revealed that BP-I and BP-II promoted removal of the virus and conferred protection in mouse lungs. BP-IV significantly reduced viral titers and histopathological changes and contributed to protection against H9N2 AIV challenge in mouse lungs. This study further elucidated the immunoadjuvant activities of BPs I to IV, providing a novel insight into immunoadjuvants for use in vaccine design.

Identification, sequence analysis, and infectivity of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated from geese

The subtype H9N2 avian influenza virus greatly threatens the Chinese poultry industry, even with annual vaccination. Waterfowl can be asymptomatically infected with the H9N2 virus. In this study, three H9N2 virus strains, designated A/Goose/Jiangsu/YZ527/2011 (H9N2, Gs/JS/YZ527/11), A/Goose/Jiangsu/SQ119/2012 (H9N2, Gs/JS/SQ119/12), and A/Goose/Jiangsu/JD564/2012 (H9N2, Gs/JS/JD564/12), were isolated from domestic geese. Molecular characterization of the three isolates showed that the Gs/JS/YZ527/11 virus is a double-reassortant virus, combining genes of A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (H9N2, G1/97)-like and A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/98 (H9N2, F/98)-like; the Gs/JS/SQ119/12 virus is a triple-reassortant virus combining genes of G1/97-like, F/98-like, and A/Duck/Shantou/163/2004 (H9N2, ST/163/04)-like. The sequences of Gs/JS/JD564/12 share high homology with those of the F/98 virus, except for the neuraminidase gene, whereas the internal genes of Gs/JS/YZ527/11 and Gs/JS/SQ119/12 are closely related to those of the H7N9 viruses. An infectivity analysis of the three isolates showed that Gs/JS/SQ119/12 and Gs/JS/YZ527/11 replicated well, with seroconversion, in geese and chickens, the Gs/JS/JD564/12 did not infect well in geese or chickens, and the F/98 virus only infected chickens, with seroconversion. Emergence of these new reassortant H9N2 avian influenza viruses indicates that these viruses can infect both chicken and goose and can produce different types of lesions in each species.

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) H9N2 are in the course of reassorting into novel AIVs / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

In 2013, two episodes of influenza emerged in China and caused worldwide concern. A new H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) first appeared in China on February 19, 2013. By August 31, 2013, the virus had spread to ten provinces and two metropolitan cities. Of 134 patients with H7N9 influenza, 45 died. From then on, epidemics emerged sporadically in China and resulted in several victims. On November 30, 2013, a 73-year-old woman presented with an influenza-like illness. She developed multiple organ failure and died 9 d after the onset of disease. A novel reassortant AIV, H10N8, was isolated from a tracheal aspirate specimen that was obtained from the patient 7 d after onset. This case was the first human case of influenza A subtype H10N8. On 4 February, 2014, another death due to H10N8 avian influenza was reported in Jiangxi Province, China.

Replication and Pathology of Duck Influenza Virus Subtype H9N2 in Chukar / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

To investigate the susceptibility of Chukars to duck avian influenza virus H9N2 and explore their role in interspecies transmission of influenza viruses. Chukars were inoculated with duck avian influenza viruses H9N2. The present study demonstrated that inflammatory lesions and virus antigen were present in the trachea, bronchus, and parabronchus, and the viruses could be isolated from throat swabs and lung tissue homogenate supernatants. At 14 d post virus inoculation, anti-H9 influenza virus antibody in the serum was detected. The results indicated that Chukars are susceptible to duck avian influenza virus and serve as an intermediate host, thereby facilitating viral gene evolution and supporting the need for continued surveillance of epidemiology and evolution of the influenza virus in Chukars.

Rapid Response Team train-ing for MERS

Since the emergence of Middle East res-piratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-Cov] in September 2013, Saudi Arabia has reported over 80% of the cases. Cur-rent scientific evidence suggests that dromedary camels are a major reservoir for MERS-Cov and an animal source of infection in humans has been implicated. Although there is no evidence of sus-tained human-to-human transmission, sporadic outbreaks and clusters of cases have been reported mainly in health care settings. This signifies the need for having a trained Rapid Response Team [RRT] on stand by for investigation of any sus-pected cluster in the community or in healthcare settings. Recently, the ministry of health of Saudi Arabia and WHO jointly organized two rounds of training for its RRTs specially focussing on inves-tigation of cluster of Middle East respira-tory syndrome [MERS]

Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment [PISA] in EMR

The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of WHO, in collaboration with the Global Influenza Programme [GIP] of WHO/HQ and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [US-CDC], conducted a 4 day regional training workshop on determining influenza baselines and thresholds for Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment [PISA] in Tunis, Tunisia, from 1 to 4 October 2018. The workshop was attended by 30 participants from 15 countries in the region

MERS in healthcare workers

Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS] is an emerging viral respirato-ry disease caused by the MERS coro-navirus [MERS-Cov] that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Human-to-human transmission has been observed to a limited extent from MERS-Cov and have primarily occurred in health care settings

Chikungunya update: Sudan

Sudan has had a major outbreak of Chikungunya since July 2018. A total of 20,110 cases have been reported since the outbreak began. No new cases of the disease were reported during the week ending 11th November 2018

Transition from EWARN to routine surveillance

A three days workshop was conducted in Damascus, Syria from 8-10 August 2018 to disseminate findings of Early Warning Alert and Response Network [EWARN] evaluation in Syria. Partici-pants included Ministry of Health [MOH] staff and technical EWARN officers. During this workshop the question of how and when to transition from EWARN to routine surveillance was examined

Influenza cases increase in recent weeks

The seasonal influenza [flu] viruses are detected year-round, however influenza activity, in the northern hemisphere, often begins to increase by the end of autumn. During the winter months, influ-enza may infect up to one fifth of the population and cause substantial mortality.

West Nile fever in Tunisia: update

As of 30 November 2018, the Ministry of Health of Tunisia reported 377 suspected cases of West Nile fever [WNF]. Out of these, 65 cases are probable and 49 cases are laboratory confirmed. Two related deaths have also been reported

Emergency risk communication in outbreaks

To provide WHO Member States, partners and stakeholders involved in emergency preparedness and response with the most up-to-date best practices on Emergency Risk Communication, this year WHO published "Communicating risk in public health emer-gencies - A WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and prac-tice"

HLIP I in EMR countries

From 2014 to 2017, seven countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of WHO benefited from the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness [PIP] Framework - Partnership Contribution [PC] to enhance their surveillance and laboratory capacities using the High-level Partnership Contribution Implementation Plan I [HLIP I] 2013-2016

GOARN and outbreak response in EMR

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network [GOARN] convened its 23rd steering committee meeting in New York, 20-21 June 2018. The aim of the meeting was to review recent deployments, activities and overall achievements of the network since it was established

Global strategy to Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics [EYE]

On 10 April 2018, WHO and partners launched the Global Strategy to Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics [EYE]. At a meeting in Abuja Nigeria, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and health officials across the African continent reaffirmed their commitment to eliminate Yellow fever

EMFLU and improved influenza data sharing

Eastern Mediterranean Flu [EMFLU] Network is a web-based platform that is used to enter and analyze the influenza surveillance data at country level in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMR]. It provides useful information for decision makers at country and regional levels regarding the trend of influenza and circulating viruses. Up to August 2018, 16 Member States in the EMR have shared their severe acute respiratory infections [SARI] data regularly through the platform

Influenza: Burden of disease estimation in Saudi Arabia

On July 2018, the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia conducted a three-day workshop on the estimation of the influenza burden using Severe Acute Respiratory Infections [SARI] surveillance data. During the workshop, 12 participants from different regions of the country were trained by influenza experts from Infection Hazard Management unit [IHM] of WHO Regional office for Eastern Mediterranean Region [EMRO]