ABSTRACT
In the spring of 2016, a loss of wild birds was observed during the monitoring of avian influenza virus activity in the Republic of Tyva. That outbreak was caused by influenza H5N8 virus of clade 2.3.4.4. In the fall, viruses of H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 were propagated in European countries. This paper presents some results of analysis of the virus strains isolated during the spring and fall seasons in 2016 in the Russian Federation. The investigated strains were highly pathogenic for mice, and some of their antigenic and genetic features differed from those of an H5N8 strain that circulated in 2014 in Russia.
Subject(s)
Birds/virology , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/genetics , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Influenza in Birds/virology , Animals , Animals, Wild/virology , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/classification , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/isolation & purification , Mice , Phylogeny , Russia/epidemiologyABSTRACT
In this study, we report the isolation of influenza A(H5N8) virus from a Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope) in Sakha Republic of the Russian Far East. The strain A/wigeon/Sakha/1/2014 (H5N8) has been shown to be pathogenic for mammals. It is similar to the strains that caused outbreaks in wild birds and poultry in Southeast Asia and Europe in 2014.
