Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 Clade 2.3.2.1c virus in migratory birds, 2014–2015

A novel Clade 2.3.2.1c H5N1 reassortant virus caused several outbreaks in wild birds in some regions of China from late 2014 to 2015. Based on the genetic and phylogenetic analyses, the viruses possess a stable gene constellation with a Clade 2.3.2.1c HA, a H9N2-derived PB2 gene and the other six genes of Asian H5N1-origin. The Clade 2.3.2.1c H5N1 reassortants displayed a high genetic relationship to a human H5N1 strain (A/Alberta/01/2014). Further analysis showed that similar viruses have been circulating in wild birds in China, Russia, Dubai (Western Asia), Bulgaria and Romania (Europe), as well as domestic poultry in some regions of Africa. The affected areas include the Central Asian, East Asian-Australasian, West Asian-East African, and Black Sea/Mediterranean flyways. These results show that the novel Clade 2.3.2.1c reassortant viruses are circulating worldwide and may have gained a selective advantage in migratory birds, thus posing a serious threat to wild birds and potentially humans.

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Characterization of Avian-like Influenza A (H4N6) Virus Isolated from Caspian Seal in 2012

正Dear Editor Marine mammals are widely distributed and can be found almost in all coastal waters and coastlines around the world. The interface areas between marine and terrestrial environments provide natural habitats for aquatic and semiaquatic mammals as well as for reservoir species of avian influenza viruses (AIV)(Runstadler et al. 2013). Previous     

CASCIRE surveillance network and work on avian influenza viruses

正Studies on influenza virus by Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)could be traced back as early as 2005 by the CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology(CASPMI),who discovered that Qinghai-like Clade 2.2H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus(HPAIV)first caused severe outbreak in wild birds in Qinghai Lake(Liu et al.,2005).     

Karyotypes of 5 species of Soricidae-Crocidura in the fauna of the USSR

The chromosomes of five Crocidura species have been studied by means of routine, G-, C- and Ag NOR-banding techniques. The karyotypes of the species with 2n = 40, i.e. C. gueldenstaedtii, C. suaveolens and C. sibirica, are identical. Short arms of the Y-chromosome of C. sibirica are larger. The karyotypes of C. leucodon (2n = 28) and C. zarudnyi (2n = 22) could be obtained as a result of tandem and centric fusion and pericentric inversions. Small amounts of heterochromatin were detected in autosomes of the species investigated. The Y-chromosomes are completely heterochromatic. Four NOR-bearing pairs are detected in the species investigated.     

Genetical features of influenza virus A (H1N1) strain that caused the 2009 pandemic

Genetical features of the A(H1N1) influenza virus strain that caused the 2009 pandemic are analyzed in the review. Mutations typical for this strain, unique and similar to influenza viruses of swine, avian and seasonal types, and phenotypic (pathologic) features associated with them, that are experimentally confirmed, are described. A possibility of reassortation of avian and swine influenza viruses and possible epidemiologic consequences are discussed.     

Surveillance for avian influenza virus in synanthropic birds during epizootic and postepizootic periods on the south of west Siberia

Results of virologic examination of synanthropic birds procured on the south part of West Siberia during epizootic in autumn 2005 and during postepizootic period (winter 2005-2006) are presented. During epizootic period one strain belonging to H4 subtype of hemagglutinin, which was not highly pathogenic, was isolated from a magpie. During postepizootic period influenza A viruses in synanthropic species were not found.