Novel avian paramyxovirus isolated from gulls in Caspian seashore in Kazakhstan.

Three isolates APMV/gull/Kazakhstan/5976/2014, APMV/gull/Kazakhstan/ 5977/2014 and APMV/gull/Kazakhstan/5979/2014, were obtained from independent samples during annual surveillance for avian influenza and paramyxoviruses in wild birds from the Caspian Sea coast in Western Kazakhstan, and were initially identified as putative paramyxoviruses on the basis of electron microscopy. Hemagglutination Inhibition Assays with antisera to nine known APMV serotypes (APMV1-9) indicated no relation to any of them. Next generation sequencing of whole genome sequences indicated the three isolates were genetically identical, and had a nucleotide structure typical for all APMVs, consisting of six genes 3'-NP-P-M-F-HN-L-5'. Phylogenetic analyses, and assessment of amino acid identities, suggested the most closely related lineages to be APMV-2, 8, 10 and 15, but the novel isolate had less than 64% identity to them and all other known avian paramyxoviruses. This value was above levels considered to generally define other APMV serotypes. Estimates of the evolutionary divergence of the nucleotide sequences of the genomes of APMVs have shown that novel Kazakhstan APMV strain was closest to APMV-2, APMV-8, APMV-10 and APMV-15, with calculated distance values of 2.057, 2.058, 2.026 and 2.286 respectively, which is above values considered to differentiate other serotypes (observed minimum was 1.108 between APMV-1 and recently isolated APMV/UPO216/Korea). Together, the data suggest that isolate APMV/gull/Kazakhstan/5976/2014 and other two should be considered as the first representative of a novel APMV-20 group, and is the first time that avian paramyxoviruses have been found infecting members of the gull family, extending the known taxonomic host range

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Avian Paramyxovirus (APMV-13) Isolated from a Wild Bird in Kazakhstan.

A novel avian paramyxovirus was identified during annual viral surveillance of wild bird populations in Kazakhstan in 2013. The virus was isolated from a white fronted goose (Anser albifrons) in northern Kazakhstan. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the isolate, which we suggest should constitute a novel serotype

Detection of influenza virus and pathogens of acute respiratory viral infections in population of Kazakhstan during 2018-2019 epidemic season

Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections are the most common infectious diseases of our time, causing a significant harm to human health as well as great economic damage. At least five groups of viruses, including more than 300 subtypes, are currently related to ARVI pathogens. Such infectious agents are characterized by a high degree of variability resulting in replaced virus antigenic characteristics augmenting their contagiousness, immunoevasion, and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Of relevance, influenza and other ARVIs also pose a threat due to subsequent rapid formation of bacterially-associated respiratory diseases as well as their continuous variability and emergence of new pathogenic species. In recent years, subtype A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) with predominance of pandemic strain, as well as type B influenza viruses have been simultaneously found in circulation. Most common among the causative agents of noninfluenza ARVIs, are respiratory syncytial virus, rhino- and adenoviruses, as well as I/III parainfluenza viruses. Here we present the results of virological and serological studies of clinical samples collected during the 2018—2019 epidemic season in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan after analyzing 2794 clinical samples (2530 nasopharyngeal swabs and 264 blood serum samples) of patients diagnosed with ARVI, ARI, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Examining nasopharyngeal swabs by using RT-PCR showed that the mixed etiology influenza viruses with predominant A/H1N1pdm virus circulated in Kazakhstan. In particular, influenza virus genetic material was found in 511 swabs (20.20% of total examined samples), so that influenza A virus RNA was detected in 508 biological samples such as A/H1N1 — in 289, A/H3N2 — 209, unverified virus subtype — 10 samples. Type B influenza virus was detected in 3 samples. Analyzing 264 blood serum samples by the HAI assay and ELISA showed the presence of antibodies specific to influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B viruses in the population of various regions of Kazakhstan, thereby indirectly confirming their co-circulation. 42 influenza virus strains were isolated in chicken embryos, of which 28 were assigned to A/H1N1pdm virus, 13 — A/H3N2 virus, and one isolate was identified as influenza B virus. The laboratory diagnostics of clinical samples for ARVIs revealed that respiratory syncytial virus prevailed among identified non-influenza agents, whereas rhino- and adenoviruses were less common. Metapneumoviruses, bocaviruses, coronaviruses, and type I parainfluenza viruses were detected in few cases. Comparison of our study data with the data on 2017—2018 circulation of influenza pathogens showed that in Kazakhstan influenza A and B viruses continued to circulate, with the dominance of A/H1N1pdm virus as it was in the previous epidemic season. Identification of non-influenza viruses, the causative agents of 2018—2019 respiratory infections, showed the predominance of respiratory syncytial virus that correlated with the aforementioned results

INFLUENZA D VIRUSES - PATHOGENS FORMING A NEW GENUS IN THE ORTHOMYXOVIRIDAE FAMILY

Influenza pathogens belong to the Orthomyxoviridae family and are divided into genera: Influenzavirus A, B, C, D, as well as Quaranjavirus, Thogotovirus, and Isavirus. For the first time, the influenza D virus was isolated from swine nasal swabs in 2011 in the United States, and its widespread distribution among cattle in France, China, Italy, Ireland, Japan, and several African countries, as well as its ability to infect ferrets, guinea pigs, is further shown. Antibodies to influenza D virus are found in the blood serum of horses, sheep, goats, and in people who have been in contact with cattle. The RNA genome of the influenza D virus is represented by seven fragments responsible for the synthesis of nine proteins. The longest three segments encode for polymerases PB2, PB1, and P3; the fourth and fifth segments encode for hemagglutinin-esterase fusion protein – HEF and nucleoprotein – NP, respectively. The sixth fragment is involved in the synthesis of membrane polypeptides DM1 and DM2, which, in accordance, lines the viral membrane from the inside and performs the function of proton channels. The seventh segment encodes the non-structural protein NS1 and the nuclear export protein NEP; NS1 helps to neutralize cellular interferon and NEP mediates the nuclear export of ribonucleoprotein. Three phylogenetic lines of the influenza virus D are described – D/OK, D/660, and D/Japan, which must be taken into account when preparing vaccines. It is concluded that from its epidemiological, pathological and biological characteristics, the potential ability to cause disease in humans and be transmitted from person to person, new, more in-depth studies are required using ecological-virological and molecular genetic methods.</jats:p

Next-generation sequencing of five new avian paramyxoviruses 8 isolates from Kazakhstan indicates a low genetic evolution rate over four decades

Five avian paramyxoviruses of serotype 8 (APMV-8) were isolated during a study monitoring wild birds in Kazakhstan in 2013 and each was further characterized. The viruses were isolated from three White-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), one Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), and one Little stint (Calidris minuta). Before our study, only two complete APMV-8 sequences had been reported worldwide since their discovery in the USA and Japan in the 1970s. We report the complete genome sequences of the newly detected viruses and analyze the genetic evolution of the APMV-8 viruses over four decades

The comparative antigenic characterization of Newcastle disease virus strains isolated in Kenya and Kazakhstan

Twenty six Newcastle disease viruses--12 reference strains and 14 strains isolated in Kenya and Kazakhstan--were characterized by means of a large panel of 38 monoclonal antibodies (MAB) directed against all the three envelope proteins: matrix, hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion. The essential distinctions were revealed between the viruses isolated in Kenya and Kazakhstan while the differences amongst the viruses belonging to the same local group were much smaller. The heterogeneity amongst the viruses isolated in Kenya was more expressed as compared to the Kazakhstanian strains

Antigenic characterization of the nucleocapsid protein of Newcastle disease virus by means of a new panel of monoclonal antibodies

Nine monoclonal antibodies (MAB) against nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) have been prepared and characterized. All the MABs were classified into three groups by means of the competitive binding assay. At least three antigenic sites were delineated on the NP. The 1st site includes two closely located epitopes; the 2nd site includes two related and two distinct epitopes; the 3rd site includes two closely related and one distinct epitopes

Molecular-genetic characterization of &lt;i&gt; Avian avulavirus &lt;/i&gt; 20 strains isolated from wild birds

Introduction. Previously unknown paramyxovirus strains were isolated from wild birds in 2013-2014 in Kazakhstan and subsequently identified as representatives of the novel Avian avulavirus 20 species. The aims and tasks were molecular genetic characterization of novel avulaviruses and investigation of their phylogenetic relationships.Material and methods. Embryonated chicken eggs were inoculated with cloacal and tracheal swabs from wild birds with subsequent virus isolation. The complete nucleotide sequences of viral genomes were obtained by massive parallel sequencing with subsequent bioinformatics processing.Results. By initial infection of chicken embryos with samples from 179 wild birds belonging to the Anatidae, Laridae, Scolopacidae and Charadriidae families, 19 hemagglutinating agents were isolated, and five of them were identified as representatives of new viral species. The study of their sequenced genomes revealed their similarity in size, but there was a significant genetic variability within the species. 2,640 nucleotide substitutions were identified and 273 of them were non-synonymous, influencing the protein structure of viruses. It was shown that isolates Avian avulavirus 20/black-headed gull/ Balkhash/5844/2013 and Avian avulavirus 20 /great black-headed gull/Atyrau/5541/2013 were 86% and 95% respectively identical to the previously described reference strain, indicating a significant evolutionary divergence within species.Discussion. The authors suggest the existence of two independent lineages - the Caspian, represented by the reference strain Aktau/5976 and Atyrau/5541, as well as the second, geographically significantly distant Balkhash lineage. Conclusion. The study confirms the role of the birds of the Laridae family as the main reservoir of Avian avulavirus 20 in the avifauna that plays a key role in maintaining viruses of the genus Avulavirus in the biosphere and is a potential natural source for the emergence of new viral variants. Continuous surveillance of them in the wild is one of the most important tasks in ensuring the safety of the poultry industry.</jats:p