Antigenic and molecular characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses in sub-Saharan Africa from 2017 through 2019.

ABSTRACT: Sub-Saharan Africa was historically considered an animal influenza cold spot, with only sporadic highly pathogenic H5 outbreaks detected over the last 20 years. However, in 2017, low pathogenic avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses were detected in poultry in Sub-Saharan Africa. Molecular, phylogenetic, and antigenic characterization of isolates from Benin, Togo, and Uganda showed that they belonged to the G1 lineage. Isolates from Benin and Togo clustered with viruses previously described in Western Africa, whereas viruses from Uganda were genetically distant and clustered with viruses from the Middle East. Viruses from Benin exhibited decreased cross-reactivity with those from Togo and Uganda, suggesting antigenic drift associated with reduced replication in Calu-3 cells. The viruses exhibited

SUBMITTER: Fusade-Boyer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8057090 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature