Genetic characterization of an H5N1 avian influenza virus with neurovirulence in ducks.

In this report, an H5N1 avian influenza virus, A/duck/Hubei/hangmei01/2006, which could lead to acute disease including neurovirulence and mortality in ducks, was isolated in brains of domestic ducks in spring of 2006. Molecular characterization of the genes revealed that this virus harbored the common characteristics of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that this virus was a member of the Fujian-like virus sublineage. All eight genes except NA and PB2 had the closest genetic relatives to the human influenza virus A/China/GD01/2006. It might indicate that the virus A/duck/Hubei/hangmei01/2006 originated from southern China, resulting from the wild bird migration or poultry transportation, and indicate that more surveillance upon evolution and transmission of influenza viruses in ducks was urgent.