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Article

Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza H5N8 Viruses Circulating in Northern and Southern Parts of Egypt, 2017–2019

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Reference Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production, Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza 12618, Egypt
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Zoonosis Science Center, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75237 Uppsala, Sweden
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Department of Poultry Disease, Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza 12618, Egypt
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Department of Birds and Rabbits Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat 32511, Egypt
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Antonio José Piantino Ferreira
Animals 2021, 11(8), 2208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082208
Received: 4 June 2021 / Revised: 16 July 2021 / Accepted: 21 July 2021 / Published: 26 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Avian Diseases Research)
During 2020–2021, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of subtype H5N8 were spreading rapidly, and two genetically distinct lineages were detected in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. HPAI H5N8 viruses have been circulating in Egyptian poultry flocks since 2016. In this study, 74 commercial chicken farms tested positive for HPAI H5N8 virus. Genetic characterization of the hemagglutinin (HA) and the neuraminidase (NA) of Egyptian HPAI H5N8 viruses showed a relationship with those recently isolated in Europe.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of subtype H5N8 continue to circulate, causing huge economic losses and serious impact on poultry production worldwide. Recently, HPAIV H5N8 has been spreading rapidly, and a large number of HPAI H5N8 outbreaks have been reported in Eurasia 2020–2021. In this study, we conducted an epidemiological survey of HPAI H5N8 virus at different geographical locations in Egypt from 2017 to 2019. This was followed by genetic and pathogenic studies. Our findings highlight the wide spread of HPAI H5N8 viruses in Egypt, including in 22 governorates. The genetic analyses of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene segments emphasized a phylogenetic relatedness between the Egyptian HPAI H5N8 viruses and viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b recently isolated in Europe. These findings suggest that a potential back transmission of Egyptian HPAI H5N8 virus has occurred from domestic poultry in Egypt to migratory wild birds, followed by further spread to different countries. This highlights the importance of continuous epidemiological and genetic studies of AIVs at the domestic–wild bird interface. View Full-Text
Keywords: influenza; poultry; Egypt; phylogenetic relatedness; pathogenicity influenza; poultry; Egypt; phylogenetic relatedness; pathogenicity
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MDPI and ACS Style

Tarek, M.; Naguib, M.M.; Arafa, A.-S.; Tantawy, L.A.; Selim, K.M.; Talaat, S.; Sultan, H.A. Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza H5N8 Viruses Circulating in Northern and Southern Parts of Egypt, 2017–2019. Animals 2021, 11, 2208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082208

AMA Style

Tarek M, Naguib MM, Arafa A-S, Tantawy LA, Selim KM, Talaat S, Sultan HA. Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza H5N8 Viruses Circulating in Northern and Southern Parts of Egypt, 2017–2019. Animals. 2021; 11(8):2208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082208

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tarek, Mohamed, Mahmoud M. Naguib, Abdel-Sattar Arafa, Laila A. Tantawy, Karim M. Selim, Shaimaa Talaat, and Hesham A. Sultan. 2021. "Epidemiology, Genetic Characterization, and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza H5N8 Viruses Circulating in Northern and Southern Parts of Egypt, 2017–2019" Animals 11, no. 8: 2208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082208

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