China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2024, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (11): 4899-4910.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2024.11.025

• Preventive Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles    

Genetic Evolution Analysis of H9N2 Subtype Avian Influenza Viruses in Wild Birds from Yunnan Province

YANG Jia1, YANG Qinhong1, WANG Wei1, ZHANG Yongxian2, DAI Hongyang3, YIN Hongbin2, LI Suhua1   

  1. 1. College of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China;
    2. Animal Disease Inspection and Supervision Institution of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650051, China;
    3. The Management Bureau of Huize Black Necked Crane National Nature Reserve, Qujing 654200, China
  • Received:2024-02-27 Published:2024-10-31

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study was aimed to analyze the genetic evolution and molecular characteristics of H9N2 subtype Avian influenza virus (AIV) originating from Napahai,an international important wetland in Shangri-La,Yunnan province,and clarify the epidemic characteristics of H9N2 subtype AIV in wild birds,so as to provide data for the prevention and control of avian influenza epidemics. 【Method】 Fecal samples of wild birds,and the oropharyngeal,cloacal swab and and environmental water samples of surrounding poultry from Napahai international important wetland of Yunnan province during 2022-2023 were collected.Allantoic cavity inoculation in 10-day-old SPF chicken embryo was used for isolating virus,and AIV subtype was identified through hemagglutination (HA) assay and RT-PCR amplification.Firstly,all the eight gene (HA,NA,M,PB2,NS,NP,PA and PB1) segments of H9N2 subtype AIV isolates were simultaneously amplify using MBTuni-12/13 primers,followed by the second-generation sequencing to obtain full genome sequences.Finally,the genetic evolutionary relationship and amino acid mutation analysis were performed. 【Result】 Four H9N2 subtype AIV isolates were identified,which exhibited G57 genotype characteristics that had been prevalent in China since 2013,with HA and NA genes from Y280-like subtype,M and PB2 genes from G1-like subtype,and NS,NP,PA and PB1 genes from F/98-like subtype.Four H9N2 subtype AIV might be the recombinant strains from multiple AIV subtypes.The results of sequence similarity analysis showed that the internal genes of four H9N2 subtype AIV isolates had the higher similarity with H7N9,H5N6 and H5N2 subtype AIV isolates,the genetic diversity characteristic was prominent.The HA cleavage sites of four strains were consistent with characteristic of cleavage of low-pathogenic avian influenza.Multiple amino acid mutations associating with increasing the risk of cross-species transmission and enhancing virulence in mammals were acquired by the isolates,including A198T, Q234L and N166D (HA),I292V and A558V (PB2),I368V and L13P (PB1),N30D and T215A (M1),P42S (NS1), etc.Four wild bird-derived H9N2 subtype AIV strains exhibited characteristics similar to those of current Chinese chicken-derived AIVs,indicated the potential for transmission route from poultry to wild birds. 【Conclusion】 Four H9N2 subtype AIV from wild birds in Napahai international important wetland of Yunnan province belonging to G57 genotype,were likely to be reassortants and may originate from poultry,and had the molecular characteristics related to the adaptation to mammalian hosts.

Key words: wild birds; H9N2 subtype AIV; G57 genotype

CLC Number: