Isolation and characterization of influenza A viruses from avian species in Hong Kong

Bull World Health Organ. 1977;55(1):15-20.

Abstract

Surveillance of apparently healthy ducks, chickens, and geese at a poultry dressing plant in Hong Kong yielded 51 haemagglutinating viruses 25 of which were influenza A viruses. Of these, 24 were subtyped into 13 combinations based on haemagglutinin and neuraminidase surface antigens. Of the 13 different influenza A viruses isolated, 7 possessed combinations of haemagglutinin and neuraminidase subunits that have not been reported previously-i.e., Hav2N1, Hav2Nav5, Hav4N2, Hav7N2, Hav7Nav1, Hav7Nav3, and Hav7Nav6. Four of the isolates were non-avid: they were not neutralized by antisera to any of the reference subtypes of influenza A viruses, yet antisera to each isolate inhibited both that virus and a known reference strain. The large number of combinations of haemagglutinin and neuraminidase and the isolation of two different influenza A viruses from one duck suggests that recombination may be occurring in nature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens / microbiology*
  • Ducks / microbiology*
  • Geese / microbiology*
  • Hong Kong
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*