The H5N1 viruses (H5N1/97) associated with the "bird-flu" incident in the Hong Kong SAR have not been isolated since the slaughter of poultry in December 1997 brought that outbreak to an end. Recent evidence points to this virus as having arisen through a reassortment of a number of precursor avian viruses and a virus related to Goose/Guangdong/1/96 (H5N1) (Gs/Gd/96) was the likely donor of the H5 hemagglutinin. We characterize the Goose/Guangdong/1/96-like viruses isolated from geese and ducks imported into Hong Kong in the year 2000. Antigenically and genetically, these recent H5N1 viruses fall into two groups, one mainly associated with geese, and the other, recently transmitted to ducks. Further, viruses isolated from a goose and a duck in December 2000 have acquired NS, PA, M, and PB2 genes from the aquatic avian influenza gene pool through reassortment. For pandemic preparedness, it is important to monitor whether these reassortant viruses have the capacity for interspecies transmission to terrestrial poultry or mammals.
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 SubtypeAnimalsChinaDucksEvolution, MolecularGeeseInfluenza A virusInfluenza in BirdsMolecular Sequence DataPhylogenyPoultry DiseasesRecombination, GeneticSequence Analysis, DNA
Structured evidence records
Evidence records
6 total
Genomic Evolution2 records
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
H5N1 viruses from geese and ducks in Southeastern China underwent genetic reassortment, acquiring NS, PA, M, and PB2 genes from aquatic avian influenza viruses.
Viruses isolated from a goose and a duck in December 2000 have acquired NS, PA, M, and PB2 genes from the aquatic avian influenza gene pool through reassortment.
Genes or proteins
NS; PA; M; PB2
Analysis methods
genetic analysis; phylogenetic analysis
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Genetic differentiation indicated two lineages of H5N1 viruses, one associated with geese and one that had recently transmitted to ducks.
Antigenically and genetically, these recent H5N1 viruses fall into two groups, one mainly associated with geese, and the other, recently transmitted to ducks.
Analysis methods
genetic analysis; phylogenetic analysis
Zoonotic Surveillance2 records
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.80
Key finding
H5N1 influenza viruses were isolated from geese and ducks imported into Hong Kong in 2000, indicating active surveillance of avian influenza among aquatic birds in Southeastern China.
We characterize the Goose/Guangdong/1/96-like viruses isolated from geese and ducks imported into Hong Kong in the year 2000.
Method
virus isolation
Geographic raw
Southeastern China
Country inferred
China
Cross Species Transmission1 records
Cross Species TransmissionExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
H5N1 influenza viruses originally associated with geese were recently transmitted to ducks, demonstrating cross-species transmission among avian hosts in Southeastern China.
We characterize the Goose/Guangdong/1/96-like viruses isolated from geese and ducks imported into Hong Kong in the year 2000. Antigenically and genetically, these recent H5N1 viruses fall into two groups, one mainly associated with geese, and the other, recently transmitted to ducks.
Recombination Or ReassortmentExtraction confidence 1.00
Key finding
Goose/Guangdong/1/96-like H5N1 viruses isolated from geese and ducks in China in 2000 acquired NS, PA, M, and PB2 gene segments from aquatic avian influenza viruses through reassortment.
Viruses isolated from a goose and a duck in December 2000 have acquired NS, PA, M, and PB2 genes from the aquatic avian influenza gene pool through reassortment.
