ABSTRACT
Rabies is a fatal disease of mammals that poses a high zoonotic risk to humans as well. The distribution of rabies is mainly driven by host animal migration and human-mediated dispersion. To contribute to the global understanding of the rabies virus (RABV) molecular epidemiology, 94 RABV field isolates collected from animals in 13 European Russian regions were phylogenetically characterized using the nearly full-size N gene nucleotide sequences. According to phylogenetic inferences, all isolates belonged to one of the two established phylogenetic groups, either group C (n = 54) or group D (n = 40), which are part of the clade Cosmopolitan of RABVs. Some representatives of group C collected from regions located far apart from each other had a remarkably high level of nucleotide identity. The possibility of the contribution of local bat species to the distribution of RABVs was discussed. Interestingly, over the years, the fraction of group D isolates has been constantly decreasing compared with that of group C isolates. The phylogenetic insights generated herein might have an important contribution to the control and surveillance of animal rabies epidemiology in the region.
ABSTRACT
Newcastle disease virus (NDV, Avian orthoavulavirus type 1, AOAV-1) is a contagious high-impact poultry pathogen with infections detected worldwide. In the present study, 19,500 clinical samples from wild bird species and poultry collected from 28 regions of Russia between 2017 and 2021 were screened for the presence of the AOAV-1 genome. NDV RNA was detected in 15 samples from wild birds and 63 samples from poultry. All isolates were screened for a partial sequence of the fusion (F) gene that included the cleavage site. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that lentogenic AOAV-1 I.1.1, I.1.2.1, and II genotypes were dominant among vaccine-like viruses in the territory of the Russian Federation. A vaccine-like virus with a mutated cleavage site (112-RKQGR^L-117) was detected in turkeys. Among the virulent AOAV-1 strains, viruses of the XXI.1.1, VII.1.1, and VII.2 genotypes were identified. The cleavage site of viruses of the XXI.1.1 genotype had a 112-KRQKR^F-117 amino acid sequence. The cleavage site of viruses with VII.1.1 and VII.2 genotypes had a 112-RRQKR^F-117 amino acid sequence. The data collected by the present study demonstrate the distribution and dominance of the virulent VII.1.1 genotype in the Russian Federation between 2017 and 2021.
ABSTRACT
Analyses of HPAI H5 viruses from poultry outbreaks across a wide Eurasian region since July 2020 including the Russian Federation, Republics of Iraq and Kazakhstan, and recent detections in migratory waterfowl in the Netherlands, revealed undetected maintenance of H5N8, likely in galliform poultry since 2017/18 and both H5N5 and H5N1. All viruses belong to A/H5 clade 2.3.4.4b with closely related HA genes. Heterogeneity in Eurasian H5Nx HPAI emerging variants threatens poultry production, food security and veterinary public health.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Influenza A virus/classification , Influenza A virus/pathogenicity , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Poultry/virology , Animals , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/classification , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/pathogenicity , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/classification , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/isolation & purification , Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype/pathogenicity , Influenza A virus/isolation & purification , Iraq/epidemiology , Kazakhstan/epidemiology , Netherlands/epidemiology , Phylogeny , Russia/epidemiology , Whole Genome SequencingABSTRACT
Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates recovered in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan between 2007 and 2010 were subjected to molecular characterization and compared with those isolated a decade ago. The IBV genome was detected in 202 out of 605 field samples from chickens with various clinical signs. Partial sequencing of the S1 gene revealed 153 vaccine strains and 49 field isolates of several genetic groups. Massachusetts, 793/B and D274 remained the predominant IBV genotypes along with QX, whereas B1648, Italy-02, Arkansas and variants accounted for about 12% of the total number. Three IBVs contained recombinant S1 gene sequences comprising genome fragments of QX-type field isolates and vaccine strains H120 (UKR/02/2009) or 4/91 (RF/03/2010), and vaccine strains H120 and D274 (RF/01/2010). The results of the present study showed a significant decline in prevalence of variant IBVs and a further spread of QX-type isolates in commercial chicken flocks in Russia as compared with the 1998 to 2002 data.
