title: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Struck Migratory Birds in China in 2015.
abstract: Approximately 100 migratory birds, including whooper swans and pochards, were found dead in the Sanmenxia Reservoir Area of China during January 2015. The causative agent behind this outbreak was identified as H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV). Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that this Sanmenxia H5N1 virus was a novel reassortant, possessing a Clade 2.3.2.1c HA gene and a H9N2-derived PB2 gene. Sanmenxia Clade 2.3.2.1c-like H5N1 viruses possess the closest genetic identity to A/Alberta/01/2014 (H5N1), which recently caused a fatal respiratory infection in Canada with signs of meningoencephalitis, a highly unusual symptom with influenza infections in humans. Furthermore, this virus was shown to be highly pathogenic to both birds and mammals, and demonstrate tropism for the nervous system. Due to the geographical location of Sanmenxia, these novel H5N1 viruses also have the potential to be imported to other regions through the migration of wild birds, similar to the H5N1 outbreak amongst migratory birds in Qinghai Lake during 2005. Therefore, further investigation and monitoring is required to prevent this novel reassortant virus from becoming a new threat to public health.
authors.affiliation: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China [3] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Yuhai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogen Biology, Taishan Medical College, Taian 271016, China.
authors.forename: Zhenjie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.
authors.forename: Yanbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Genetic Resources and Low-carbon Environmental Biotechnology, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Jianmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian 271018, China.
authors.forename: Haiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Urban Wetland Park of Sanmenxia Swan Lake, Sanmenxia 472000, China.
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Urban Wetland Park of Sanmenxia Swan Lake, Sanmenxia 472000, China.
authors.forename: Wendong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ru
authors.affiliation: National Urban Wetland Park of Sanmenxia Swan Lake, Sanmenxia 472000, China.
authors.forename: Ruyi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China.
authors.forename: Yingxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China.
authors.forename: Boping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518112, China [3] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [4] Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious disease, Zhejiang University, Hanzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogen Biology, Taishan Medical College, Taian 271016, China.
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: 1] CAS Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Fumin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002170:Canada; D002681:China; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; C057027:PB2 protein, Influenzavirus A; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase