The subtype H9N2 avian influenza virus greatly threatens the Chinese poultry industry, even with annual vaccination. Waterfowl can be asymptomatically infected with the H9N2 virus. In this study, three H9N2 virus strains, designated A/Goose/Jiangsu/YZ527/2011 (H9N2, Gs/JS/YZ527/11), A/Goose/Jiangsu/SQ119/2012 (H9N2, Gs/JS/SQ119/12), and A/Goose/Jiangsu/JD564/2012 (H9N2, Gs/JS/JD564/12), were isolated from domestic geese. Molecular characterization of the three isolates showed that the Gs/JS/YZ527/11 virus is a double-reassortant virus, combining genes of A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 (H9N2, G1/97)-like and A/Chicken/Shanghai/F/98 (H9N2, F/98)-like; the Gs/JS/SQ119/12 virus is a triple-reassortant virus combining genes of G1/97-like, F/98-like, and A/Duck/Shantou/163/2004 (H9N2, ST/163/04)-like. The sequences of Gs/JS/JD564/12 share high homology with those of the F/98 virus, except for the neuraminidase gene, whereas the internal genes of Gs/JS/YZ527/11 and Gs/JS/SQ119/12 are closely related to those of the H7N9 viruses. An infectivity analysis of the three isolates showed that Gs/JS/SQ119/12 and Gs/JS/YZ527/11 replicated well, with seroconversion, in geese and chickens, the Gs/JS/JD564/12 did not infect well in geese or chickens, and the F/98 virus only infected chickens, with seroconversion. Emergence of these new reassortant H9N2 avian influenza viruses indicates that these viruses can infect both chicken and goose and can produce different types of lesions in each species.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chickens ; Geese ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; Neuraminidase ; Population Characteristics ; Poultry ; Sequence Analysis ; Seroconversion ; Vaccination

Goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus (GHPV) is not a naturally occurring infection in geese in China; however, GHPV infection has been identified in Pekin ducks, a domestic duck species. Herein, we investigated the prevalence of GHPV in five domestic duck species (Liancheng white ducks, Putian black ducks, Shan Sheldrake, Shaoxing duck, and Jinyun Sheldrake) in China. We determined that the Jinyun Sheldrake duck species could be infected by GHPV with no clinical signs, whereas no infection was identified in the other four duck species. We sequenced the complete genome of the Jinyun Sheldrake origin GHPV. Genomic data comparison suggested that GHPVs share a conserved genomic structure, regardless of the host (duck or geese) or region (Asia or Europe). Jinyun Sheldrake origin GHPV genomic characterization and epidemiological studies will increase our understanding of potential heterologous reservoirs of GHPV.
China ; Ducks ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Geese ; Genome ; Polyomavirus ; Prevalence

Goose parvovirus (GPV) continues to be a threat to goose farms and has significant economic effects on the production of geese. Current commercially available vaccines only rarely prevent GPV infection. In our study, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum NC8 was selected as a vector to express the VP2 gene of GPV, and recombinant L. plantarum pSIP409-VP2/NC8 was successfully constructed. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant protein was approximately 70 kDa. Mice were immunized with a 2 × 109 colony-forming unit/200 µL dose of the recombinant L. plantarum strain, and the ratios and numbers of CD11c⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, and interferon gamma- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-expressing spleen lymphocytes in the pSIP409-VP2/NC8 group were higher than those in the control groups. In addition, we assessed the capacity of L. plantarum SIP409-VP2/NC8 to induce secretory IgA production. We conclude that administered pSIP409-VP2/NC8 leads to relatively extensive cellular responses. This study provides information on GPV infection and offers a clear framework of options available for GPV control strategies.
Agriculture ; Animals ; Geese ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Interferons ; Lactobacillus plantarum* ; Lactobacillus* ; Lymphocytes ; Mice* ; Molecular Weight ; Parvovirus* ; Spleen ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vaccines

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) that parasitize the globally threatened swan goose Anser cygnoides have been long recognized since the early 19th century, but those records were probably biased towards sampling of captive or domestic geese due to the small population size and limited distribution of its wild hosts. To better understand the lice species parasitizing swan geese that are endemic to East Asia, we collected chewing lice from 14 wild geese caught at 3 lakes in northeastern Mongolia. The lice were morphologically identified as 16 Trinoton anserinum (Fabricius, 1805), 11 Ornithobius domesticus Arnold, 2005, and 1 Anaticola anseris (Linnaeus, 1758). These species are known from other geese and swans, but all of them were new to the swan goose. This result also indicates no overlap in lice species between older records and our findings from wild birds. Thus, ectoparasites collected from domestic or captive animals may provide biased information on the occurrence, prevalence, host selection, and host-ectoparasite interactions from those on wild hosts.
Animals ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Birds ; Far East ; Geese* ; Lakes ; Mastication* ; Mongolia ; Phthiraptera* ; Population Density ; Prevalence

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) that parasitize the globally threatened swan goose Anser cygnoides have been long recognized since the early 19th century, but those records were probably biased towards sampling of captive or domestic geese due to the small population size and limited distribution of its wild hosts. To better understand the lice species parasitizing swan geese that are endemic to East Asia, we collected chewing lice from 14 wild geese caught at 3 lakes in northeastern Mongolia. The lice were morphologically identified as 16 Trinoton anserinum (Fabricius, 1805), 11 Ornithobius domesticus Arnold, 2005, and 1 Anaticola anseris (Linnaeus, 1758). These species are known from other geese and swans, but all of them were new to the swan goose. This result also indicates no overlap in lice species between older records and our findings from wild birds. Thus, ectoparasites collected from domestic or captive animals may provide biased information on the occurrence, prevalence, host selection, and host-ectoparasite interactions from those on wild hosts.
Animals ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Birds ; Far East ; Geese* ; Lakes ; Mastication* ; Mongolia ; Phthiraptera* ; Population Density ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVEIn March 2012, an H7N7 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) named A/wild goose/Dongting/PC0360/2012 (H7N7) (DT/PC0360) was recovered from a wild goose in East Dongting Lake. We performed whole-genome sequencing of the isolate, and analyzed the phylogenetic and molecular characterization.

METHODSRNA was extracted from environment samples (including fecal samples from wild bird or domestic ducks, and water samples) for detecting the presence of Influenza A Virus targeting Matrix gene, using realtime RT-PCR assay. The positive samples were performed virus isolation with embryonated eggs. The subtype of the isolates were identified by RT-PCR assay with the H1-H16 and N1-N9 primer set. The whole-genome sequencing of isolates were performed. Phylogenetic and molecular characterizations of the eight genes of the isolates were analyzed.

RESULTSOur results suggested that all the eight gene segments of DT/PC0360 belonged to the Eurasian gene pool, and the HA gene were belonged to distinct sublineage with H7N9 AIV which caused outbreaks in Mainland China in 2013. The hemagglutinin cleavage site of HA of DT/PC0360 showed characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza virus.

CONCLUSIONStrengthening the surveillance of AIVs of wild waterfowl and poultry in this region is vital for our knowledge of the ecology and mechanism of transmission to prevent an influenza pandemic.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; China ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; Geese ; virology ; Genome, Viral ; Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Lakes ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; veterinary

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) have been isolated from a wide range of domestic and wild birds. Wild birds, predominantly ducks, geese and gulls form the reservoir of AIV in nature. The viruses in wild bird populations are a potential source of widespread infections in poultry. Active surveillance for AIV infection provides information regarding AIV distribution, and global AIV surveillance can play a key role in the early recognition of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since 2003 in Korea, there have been four H5N1 HPAI outbreaks caused by clade 2.5, 2.2 and 2.3.2. Therefore, improvement of AIV surveillance strategy is required to detect HPAI viruses effectively. This article deals with the major events establishing the role of wild birds in the natural history of influenza in Korea. We highlighted the need for continuous surveillance in wild birds and characterization of these viruses to understand AIV epidemiology and host ecology in Korea.
Animals ; Birds* ; Charadriiformes ; Disease Outbreaks ; Ducks ; Ecology ; Epidemiology ; Geese ; Influenza in Birds* ; Influenza, Human ; Korea* ; Natural History ; Poultry ; Viruses*

BACKGROUND: Validation of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays is important for evaluating antibody responses to influenza virus, and selection of erythrocytes for use in these assays is important. This study aimed to determine the correlation between receptor binding specificity and effectiveness of the HI assay for detecting antibody response to pandemic influenza H1N1 (pH1N1) virus. METHODS: Hemagglutination (HA) tests were performed using erythrocytes from 6 species. Subsequently, 8 hemagglutinating units of pH1N1 from each species were titrated by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. To investigate the effect of erythrocyte binding preference on HI antibody titers, comparisons of HI with microneutralization (MN) assays were performed. RESULTS: Goose erythrocytes showed most specific binding with pH1N1, while HA titers using human erythrocytes were comparable to those using turkey erythrocytes. The erythrocyte binding efficiency was shown to have an impact on antibody detection. Comparing MN titers, HI titers using turkey erythrocytes yielded the most accurate results, while those using goose erythrocytes produced the highest geometric mean titer. Human blood group O erythrocytes lacking a specific antibody yielded results most comparable to those obtained using turkey erythrocytes. Further, pre-existing antibody to pH1N1 and different erythrocyte species can distort HI assay results. CONCLUSIONS: HI assay, using turkey and human erythrocytes, yielded the most comparable and applicable results for pH1N1 than those by MN assay, and using goose erythrocytes may lead to overestimated titers. Selection of appropriate erythrocyte species for HI assay allows construction of a more reliable database, which is essential for further investigations and control of virus epidemics.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology ; Antibodies, Viral/*analysis/immunology ; Chickens ; Erythrocytes/*metabolism ; Female ; Geese ; *Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Horses ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology/immunology/virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutralization Tests ; Pandemics ; Swine ; Turkeys

Three Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains recovered from ND outbreaks in chickens and duck flocks in north china during 2009 to 2011 were completely sequenced and biologically characterized. All the strains were velogenic and had the velogenic motif 112R-R-Q-K-R-F117 which was consistent with the results of biological tests. Analysis of the variable region (nucleotide 47 to 420) of the F gene indicated that the three isolates belonged to genotype VII d. Cross hemagglutination inhibition test indicated that the antigen homology between three isolates and LaSota were 82.5%-89.4%, the homology between the two isolates from chicken was 90%. A cross-protection experiment in which specific-pathogen-free chickens vaccinated with LaSota were challenged by SDLY01 isolate showed that LaSota vaccine could provide complete protection against SDLY01, however virus discharge could be detected on fifth day. Challenge experiment in which Cherry Valley duck of 30 day old challenged with SD03 strain indicated that cherry valley duck had no disease in experiment period, but virus discharge could be detected from Larynx and cloaca until fifth day. Genome length of three NDV isolates was 15192bp and belonged to genotype VII d. Sequence analysis clarified that the whole genomic sequence of these three isolates shared high homology with NDV virus strains isolated from goose and duck over the same period, which elucidated that NDV isolated from goose, duck or chicken had close genetics and epidemiological relationship.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bird Diseases ; virology ; Chickens ; Columbidae ; Ducks ; Geese ; Genome, Viral ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Newcastle Disease ; virology ; Newcastle disease virus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

A pair of primers with BamH I restriction site were designed to amplify the complete genome of goose circovirus. Two copies of the genome were ligated in tandem and cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector to construct an infectious clone named as pGEMT-2GoCV. The pGEMT-2GoCV linearized with EcoR I was transfected to negative embryos and gosling with Lipfectamine. PCR detection verified the proliferation of GoCV in geese. Some sera of the embryo transfected group were detected to be positive at 2 and 4 weeks after hatching and one bursa was detected to be positive at 4 weeks. Some sera of the gosling transfected group were also detected to be positive at 2 weeks after transfection. Furthermore, the mark in the PCR products were identified by BamH I digestion and the GoCV in positive tissue and sera were quantitated by Real-time PCR. The results showed that the virus load in positive bursa was 1.57 x 10(6) copies/mg, the virus load in positive sera were 3.52 x 10(4)-5.92 x 10(5) copies/microL. In conclusion, the infectious DNA clone constructed with two copies of full-length GoCV genome in tandem can transfect embryo and gosling and propagate the marked goose circovirus.
Animals ; Circovirus ; genetics ; Geese ; virology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection