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321804

Phylogenetic and epidemiological characteristics of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses from 2020 to 2022 in Egypt

Article

Last updated: 28 Dec 2024

Subjects

-

Tags

Avian and Rabbit Health

Abstract

The H9 low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses cause enormous economic harm despite their low pathogenicity. It became common in Egypt in 2011 and has undergone ongoing genetic evolution since then. To limit the virus's transmission, regular monitoring of its evolution is essential. The current study concentrated on the frequency and molecular characteristics of LPAI H9N2 viruses spreading throughout different Egyptian areas between 2020 and 2022. Using real-time PCR, 503 positive LPAI H9 cases were detected out of 29,319 cases, for a total prevalence rate of 1.7%. However, live bird market (LBM) had the highest LPAI H9N2 prevalence rate (10.6%), followed by household sector and farm (2 % and 1.3% respectively). The 33 samples were isolated in 11-day-old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) before being sequenced for partial hemagglutinin (HA). The H9 isolates were phylogenetically related to the Egy-2 G1-B branch (pigeon-like), which has been the prevalent circulating H9N2 genotype in Egypt since 2016. The findings of the sequence analysis revealed a clear genetic evolution compared to the original virus (A/quail/Egypt/113413v/2011), which shared 93.2–95.4% and 94.7-97.1% homology at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. In comparison to the reference Egyptian strain, the molecular analysis found 12 alterations in amino acid residues with genetic stability in the major locations. The majority of examined strains had five glycosylation sites in HA. However, some strains had an extra sites at position 105, 145, 258. Comparable to A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97, and all strains had the substitutions H191and L234 in the HA gene, indicating a predilection for binding to human-like receptors. Because of continues genetic development of H9 viruses reported in this work, frequent viral surveillance is required for better management.
 

DOI

10.21608/ejah.2024.321804

Keywords

Avian influenza, Poultry, Real-Time PCR, H9N2, HA, LBM, ECEs, Egypt

Volume

4

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

43863

Issue Date

2024-01-01

Receive Date

2023-09-12

Publish Date

2024-01-01

Page Start

72

Page End

84

Print ISSN

2735-4938

Online ISSN

2735-4946

Link

https://ejah.journals.ekb.eg/article_321804.html

Detail API

https://ejah.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=321804

Order

321,804

Type

Original researches

Type Code

1,636

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Journal of Animal Health

Publication Link

https://ejah.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Phylogenetic and epidemiological characteristics of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses from 2020 to 2022 in Egypt

Details

Type

Article

Created At

28 Dec 2024