title: Comparison of biological characteristics of H9N2 avian influenza viruses isolated from different hosts.
abstract: The pathogenicity and transmissibility of H9N2 influenza viruses has been widely investigated; however, few studies comparing the biological characteristics of H9N2 viruses isolated from different hosts have been performed. In this study, eight H9N2 viruses, isolated from chickens (Ck/F98, Ck/AH and Ck/TX), pigeons (Pg/XZ), quail/(Ql/A39), ducks (Dk/Y33) and swine (Sw/YZ and Sw/TZ) were selected, and their biological characteristics were determined. The results showed that all H9N2 viruses maintained a preference for both the avian- and human-type receptors, except for Sw/TZ, which had exclusive preference for the human-type receptor. The viruses replicated well in DF-1 and MDCK cells, whereas only three isolates, Ck/F98, Ck/TX and Sw/TZ, could replicate in A549 cells and also replicated in mouse lungs, resulting in body weight loss in mice. All H9N2 viruses were nonpathogenic to chickens and were detected in the trachea and lung tissues. The viruses were shed primarily by the oropharynx and were transmitted efficiently to naïve contact chickens. Our findings suggest that all H9N2 viruses from different hosts exhibit efficient replication and contact-transmission among chickens, and chickens serve as a good reservoir for the persistence and interspecies transmission of H9N2 influenza viruses.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yinbiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Da
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhihao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Sujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Daxin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xiufan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D010856:Columbidae; D004372:Ducks; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000821:virology; D011784:Quail; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000821:virology*