1. H9N2 influenza A viruses found to be enzootic in Punjab Pakistan's bird markets with evidence of human H9N2 nasal colonization.
- Author
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Ali S, Robie ER, Saeed U, Jaffar G, Bailey ES, Marushchak LV, Kreditor BE, Pulscher LA, Rubrum AM, Webby RJ, and Gray GC
- Subjects
- Pakistan epidemiology, Animals, Humans, Oropharynx virology, Nasopharynx virology, Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype genetics, Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype isolation & purification, Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype classification, Influenza in Birds virology, Influenza in Birds epidemiology, Influenza, Human virology, Influenza, Human epidemiology, Poultry virology, Phylogeny
- Abstract
Objectives: This study sought to detect and characterize influenza A (IAV) and influenza D (IDV) viruses circulating among commercial birds and shop owners in Pakistan's live bird markets., Methods: Oropharyngeal swabs (n = 600; n = 300 pools) collected from poultry and nasopharyngeal swabs (n = 240) collected from poultry workers were studied for molecular evidence of IAV and IDV using real-time and conventional real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction protocols., Results: Nineteen (6.3%) poultry pools were positive for IAV and 73.9% of these were positive for H9N2 subtypes. Two (0.83%) poultry workers had evidence of IAV, and both were also H9N2 subtypes. The poultry and human IAV-positive specimens all clustered phylogenetically by Sanger and next-generation sequencing with previously detected H9N2 poultry isolates. No field specimens were positive for IDV., Conclusion: H9N2 IAV is likely enzootic in Punjab Province Pakistan's live bird markets and may be colonizing the noses of workers and market visitors. Regular monitoring for avian influenza-associated human illness in Punjab seems to be a needed public measure., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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