title: Experimental infection of non-human primates with avian influenza virus (H9N2).
abstract: Several cases of humans infected with the H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) have been described since 1999; however, the infectivity and pathogenicity of H9N2 in humans is not well defined. A non-human primate model in rhesus macaques was developed to study H9N2 virus infections as a means of better understanding the pathogenesis and virulence of this virus, in addition to testing antiviral drugs. Rhesus macaques inoculated with H9N2 AIV presented with biphasic fever and viral pneumonia. H9N2 was recovered from nasal washes and pharyngeal samples up to days 7-9 postinfection, followed by an increase in HI (hemagglutination inhibition) antibody titers. Tissue tropism and immunohistochemistry indicated that H9N2 AIV replicated in the upper respiratory tract (turbinate, trachea, and bronchus) and in all lobes of the lung. Our data suggest that rhesus macaques are a suitable animal model to study H9N2 influenza virus infections, particularly in the context of viral evolution and pathogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhaowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tiecheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: Kaihui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xuexing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Huale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yongkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Songtao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yuwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xianzhu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009666:Nose / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D056189:Viral Tropism; D017201:Virus Shedding