Phylogenetic analysis of neuraminidase gene of H9N2 influenza viruses prevalent in chickens in China during 1995-2002.

The neuraminidase (NA) genes of 12 H9N2 influenza virus strains isolated from diseased chickens in different farms in mainland China during 1995-2002 were amplified and sequenced. Amino acids at hemadsorbing (HB) site of these isolates are different from those of A/quail/Hong Kong/G1/97-like viruses and A/chicken/Korea/96-like viruses. Neuraminidases of the 12 strains had a deletion of 3 amino acid residues at positions 63-65 as compared to that of A/turkey/Wisconsin/189/66, while those of Korea and Pakistan H9N2 isolates had no deletion. Phylogenetic analyses showed NA gene of these isolates belonged to that of A/duck/Hong Kong/Y280/97-like virus lineage. NA gene of the H9N2 viruses isolated in Korea and Pakistan belonged to lineage different from those of the 12 isolates. The present results indicate that the NA of H9N2 strains isolated in mainland China during the past 8 years were well preserved and the geographical distribution play a significant role in the evolution of the H9N2 influenza viruses.