Isolation of avian influenza viruses in Moscow region in 2022-2023

Authors: Anastasia Treshchalina, Daria Gordeeva, Elizaveta Boravleva, Alexandra Gambaryan, Alla Belyakova, Alexei Prilipov, Galina Sadykova, Tatiana Timofeeva, and Natalia Lomakina

Ger. J. Microbiol. 2026. vol. 6, Iss. 1 pp:36-45
Doi: https://doi.org/10.51585/gjm.2026.1.0060

article-picture
Abstract:

Wild waterfowl serve as the primary hosts of influenza A viruses, from which sporadically emerging lineages adapt to chickens, horses, pigs, and humans. This highlights the importance of controlling influenza viruses in wild populations. During the autumn migration of wild ducks through Moscow, monitoring for avian influenza was conducted. Analysis of wild duck influenza viruses from 2006 to 2021 revealed a shift in prevalence from European to Asian lineages. The present study investigated viruses isolated in 2022–2023. Twelve virus strains were isolated and subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis indicated relationships with viruses previously isolated in Kazakhstan, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, China, and Korea. In contrast, viruses from 2008 to 2010 were primarily isolated in the Netherlands and Sweden, with fewer cases in Mongolia and Ukraine. These findings confirm earlier observations that the number of viruses of European origin in Moscow has declined over time. Genomic positions associated with host adaptation and pathogenicity were analyzed. All isolates possessed amino acids characteristic of avian influenza viruses at the proteolytic site, the receptor-binding region, positions 627 and 701 of PB2, position 66 of PB1-F2, and the PDZ domain in the NS protein. Infection of mice elicited a strong immune response. While the viruses did not cause mortality in adult mice, infection of young mice (weighing 8–10 g) with a high dose of H3N8 viruses resulted in death. These results emphasize the necessity for continued monitoring of influenza viruses in wild populations.

Keywords:

Avian influenza viruses, circulation, monitoring, pathogenicity

Statistics:

Article Views: 87
PDF Download: 14