title: Emergence and predominance of an H5N1 influenza variant in China.
abstract: The development of highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses in poultry in Eurasia accompanied with the increase in human infection in 2006 suggests that the virus has not been effectively contained and that the pandemic threat persists. Updated virological and epidemiological findings from our market surveillance in southern China demonstrate that H5N1 influenza viruses continued to be panzootic in different types of poultry. Genetic and antigenic analyses revealed the emergence and predominance of a previously uncharacterized H5N1 virus sublineage (Fujian-like) in poultry since late 2005. Viruses from this sublineage gradually replaced those multiple regional distinct sublineages and caused recent human infection in China. These viruses have already transmitted to Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, and Thailand, resulting in a new transmission and outbreak wave in Southeast Asia. Serological studies suggest that H5N1 seroconversion in market poultry is low and that vaccination may have facilitated the selection of the Fujian-like sublineage. The predominance of this virus over a large geographical region within a short period directly challenges current disease control measures.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China.
authors.forename: G J D
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vijaykrishna
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: J S M
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus