Review article
Molecular approaches for the identification of avian influenza viruses
Darja Barlič- Maganja
Uroš Krapež
Olga Zorman Rojs
Abstract
The recently raised awareness of the threat of a new influenza pandemic has stimulated the interest in the detection of influenza A viruses in the secretions of a wide variety of birds and mammals. Influenza A viruses are subtyped conventionally according to the characteristics of the external glycoproteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). All 16 HA and 9 NA subtypes have been isolated from aquatic birds that are believed to be a natural host and reservoir for influenza viruses. Poultry, specifically chickens and turkeys, are not considered to be a normal host for the virus, although transmission from wild birds to poultry occurs routinely. Although most HA subtypes have been found in poultry, particular emphasis is placed on the H5 and H7 HA subtypes of avian influenza virus because only these subtypes are known to cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry. Recently developed molecular methods enable fast, accurate and reliable approach to identify influenza virus and its subtypes.
Keywords
Avian influenza virus; H5, H7; Typing; Polymerase chain reaction
Hrčak ID:
7748
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2006.
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