Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Virology Journal
Published in: Virology Journal 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Serological evidence of H9N2 avian influenza virus exposure among poultry workers from Fars province of Iran

Authors: A. Heidari, M. Mancin, H. Nili, G. H. Pourghanbari, K. B. Lankarani, S. Leardini, G. Cattoli, I. Monne, A. Piccirillo

Published in: Virology Journal | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Since the 1990s, influenza A viruses of the H9N2 subtype have been causing infections in the poultry population around the globe. This influenza subtype is widely circulating in poultry and human cases of AI H9N2 have been sporadically reported in countries where this virus is endemic in domestic birds. The wide circulation of H9N2 viruses throughout Europe and Asia along with their ability to cause direct infection in mammals and humans, raises public health concerns. H9N2 AI was reported for the first time in Iran in 1998 and at present it is endemic in poultry. This study was carried out to evaluate the exposure to H9N2 AI viruses among poultry workers from the Fars province.

Methods

100 poultry workers and 100 healthy individuals with no professional exposure to poultry took part in this study. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against two distinct H9N2 avian influenza viruses, which showed different phylogenetic clustering and important molecular differences, such as at the amino acid (aa) position 226 (Q/L) (H3 numbering), using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays.

Results

Results showed that 17 % of the poultry workers were positive for the A/chicken/Iran/10VIR/854-5/2008 virus in MN test and 12 % in HI test using the titer ≥40 as positive cut-off value. Only 2 % of the poultry workers were positive for the A/chicken/Iran/12VIR/9630/1998 virus. Seroprevalence of non exposed individuals for both H9N2 strains was below 3 % by both tests. Statistical analyses models showed that exposure to poultry significantly increases the risk of infection with H9N2 virus.

Conclusions

The results have demonstrated that exposure to avian H9N2 viruses had occurred among poultry workers in the Fars province of Iran. Continuous surveillance programmes should be implemented to monitor the presence of avian influenza infections in humans and to evaluate their potential threat to poultry workers and public health.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
2.
Cutler SJ, Fooks AR, van der Poel WH. Public health threat of new, reemerging, and neglected zoonoses in the industrialized world. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16(1):1–7.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
3.
4.
Riedel S. Crossing the species barrier: the threat of an avian influenza pandemic. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2006;19(1):16–20.
5.
Katz JM, Veguilla V, Belser JA, Maines TR, Van Hoeven N, Pappas C, et al. The public health impact of avian influenza viruses. Poult Sci. 2009;88(4):872–9.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Alexander DJ. Report on avian influenza in the Eastern Hemisphere during 1997-2002. Avian Dis. 2003;47(3 Suppl):792–7.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Brown IH, Banks J, Manvell RJ, Essen SC, Shell W, Slomka M, et al. Recent epidemiology and ecology of influenza A viruses in avian species in Europe and the Middle East. Dev Biol (Basel). 2006;124:45–50.
8.
Lin YP, Shaw M, Gregory V, Cameron K, Lim W, Klimov A, et al. Avian-to-human transmission of H9N2 subtype influenza A viruses: relationship between H9N2 and H5N1 human isolates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000;97(17):9654–8.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
9.
Ge FF, Zhou JP, Liu J, Wang J, Zhang WY, Sheng LP, et al. Genetic evolution of H9 subtype influenza viruses from live poultry markets in Shanghai, China. J Clin Microbiol. 2009;47(10):3294–300.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
10.
Wan H, Perez DR. Amino acid 226 in the hemagglutinin of H9N2 influenza viruses determines cell tropism and replication in human airway epithelial cells. J Virol. 2007;81(10):5181–91.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
11.
Saito T, Lim W, Suzuki T, Suzuki Y, Kida H, Nishimura SI, et al. Characterization of a human H9N2 influenza virus isolated in Hong Kong. Vaccine. 2001;20(1-2):125–33.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Butt KM, Smith GJ, Chen H, Zhang LJ, Leung YH, Xu KM, et al. Human infection with an avian H9N2 influenza A virus in Hong Kong in 2003. J Clin Microbiol. 2005;43(11):5760–7.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
13.
Cameron KR, Gregory V, Banks J, Brown IH, Alexander DJ, Hay AJ, et al. H9N2 subtype influenza A viruses in poultry in pakistan are closely related to the H9N2 viruses responsible for human infection in Hong Kong. Virology. 2000;278(1):36–41.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Shanmuganatham K, Feeroz MM, Jones-Engel L, Smith GJ, Fourment M, Walker D, et al. Antigenic and molecular characterization of avian influenza A(H9N2) viruses, Bangladesh. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013;19(9):1393–1402.
15.
16.
17.
Peiris JS, Guan Y, Markwell D, Ghose P, Webster RG, Shortridge KF. Cocirculation of avian H9N2 and contemporary “human” H3N2 influenza A viruses in pigs in southeastern China: potential for genetic reassortment? J Virol. 2001;75(20):9679–86.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
18.
Peng L, Chen C, Kai-yi H, Feng-xia Z, Yan-li Z, Zong-shuai L, et al. Molecular characterization of H9N2 influenza virus isolated from mink and its pathogenesis in mink. Vet Microbiol. 2015;176(1-2):88–96.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Gao R, Cao B, Hu Y, Feng Z, Wang D, Hu W, et al. Human infection with a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(20):1888–97.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Zhang T, Bi Y, Tian H, Li X, Liu D, Wu Y, et al. Human infection with influenza virus A(H10N8) from live poultry markets, China, 2014. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014;20(12):2076–9.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
21.
Li X, Shi J, Guo J, Deng G, Zhang Q, Wang J, et al. Genetics, receptor binding property, and transmissibility in mammals of naturally isolated H9N2 Avian Influenza viruses. PLoS Pathog. 2014;10(11):e1004508.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
22.
Sang X, Wang A, Ding J, Kong H, Gao X, Li L, et al. Adaptation of H9N2 AIV in guinea pigs enables efficient transmission by direct contact and inefficient transmission by respiratory droplets. Sci Rep. 2015;5:15928.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
23.
Li KS, Xu KM, Peiris JS, Poon LL, Yu KZ, Yuen KY, et al. Characterization of H9 subtype influenza viruses from the ducks of southern China: a candidate for the next influenza pandemic in humans? J Virol. 2003;77(12):6988–94.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
24.
Liu Q, Liu DY, Yang ZQ. Characteristics of human infection with avian influenza viruses and development of new antiviral agents. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2013;34(10):1257–69.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
25.
Wang Q, Ju L, Liu P, Zhou J, Lv X, Li L, et al. Serological and Virological Surveillance of Avian Influenza A Virus H9N2 Subtype in Humans and Poultry in Shanghai, China, Between 2008 and 2010. Zoonoses Public Health. 2015;62(2):131–40.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
26.
Pawar SD, Tandale BV, Raut CG, Parkhi SS, Barde TD, Gurav YK, et al. Avian influenza H9N2 seroprevalence among poultry workers in Pune, India, 2010. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e36374.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
27.
Hadipour MM, Pazira S. Evaluation of Antibody Titers to H9N2 Influenza Virus in Hospital Staff in Shiraz, Iran. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advance. 2011;10(7):832–4.CrossRef
28.
Alizadeh E, Kheiri MT, Bashar R, Tabatabaeian M, Hosseini SM. Avian Influenza (H9N2) among poultry workers in Iran. Iranian Journal of Microbiology. 2009;1:3–6.
29.
Anvar E, Hosseini SM, Tavasoti Kheiri M, Mazaheri V, Fazaei K, Shabani M, et al. Serological Survey of Avian Influenza (H9N2) Among Different Occupational Groups in Tehran and Qazvin Provinces in IR Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2013;6(4):e5441.
30.
Khuntirat BP, Yoon IK, Blair PJ, Krueger WS, Chittaganpitch M, Putnam SD, et al. Evidence for subclinical avian influenza virus infections among rural Thai villagers. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;53(8):e107–16.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
31.
Blair PJ, Putnam SD, Krueger WS, Chum C, Wierzba TF, Heil GL, et al. Evidence for avian H9N2 influenza virus infections among rural villagers in Cambodia. J Infect Public Health. 2013;6(2):69–79.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
32.
Coman A, Maftei DN, Krueger WS, Heil GL, Friary JA, Chereches RM, et al. Serological evidence for avian H9N2 influenza virus infections among Romanian agriculture workers. J Infect Public Health. 2013;6(6):438–47.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Gomaa MR, Kayed AS, Elabd MA, Zeid DA, Zaki SA, El Rifay AS, et al. Avian influenza A(H5N1) and A (H9N2) seroprevalence and risk factors for infection among Egyptians: a prospective, controlled seroepidemiological study. J Infect Dis. 2015;211(9):1399–407.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Ahad A, Thornton RN, Rabbani M, Yaqub T, Younus M, Muhammad K, et al. Risk factors for H7 and H9 infection in commercial poultry farm workers in provinces within Pakistan. Prev Vet Med. 2014;117(3-4):610–4.CrossRefPubMed
35.
36.
37.
Kaverin NV, Rudneva IA, Ilyushina NA, Lipatov AS, Krauss S, Webster RG. Structural differences among hemagglutinins of influenza A virus subtypes are reflected in their antigenic architecture: analysis of H9 escape mutants. J Virol. 2004;78(1):240–9.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
38.
Zhu Y, Yang D, Ren Q, Yang Y, Liu X, Xu X, et al. Identification and characterization of a novel antigenic epitope in the hemagglutinin of the escape mutants of H9N2 avian influenza viruses. Vet Microbiol. 2015;178(1-2):144–9.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Okamatsu M, Sakoda Y, Kishida N, Isoda N, Kida H. Antigenic structure of the hemagglutinin of H9N2 influenza viruses. Arch Virol. 2008;153(12):2189–95.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Yasugi M, Kubota-Koketsu R, Yamashita A, Kawashita N, Du A, Misaki R, et al. Emerging antigenic variants at the antigenic site Sb in pandemic A(H1N1)2009 influenza virus in Japan detected by a human monoclonal antibody. PLoS One. 2013;8(10):e77892.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
41.
Eichelberger M, Golding H, Hess M, Weir J, Subbarao K, Luke CJ, et al. FDA/NIH/WHO public workshop on immune correlates of protection against influenza A viruses in support of pandemic vaccine development, Bethesda, Maryland, US, December 10-11, 2007. Vaccine. 2008;26(34):4299–303.CrossRefPubMed
42.
Stephenson I, Nicholson KG, Glück R, Mischler R, Newman RW, Palache AM, et al. Safety and antigenicity of whole virus and subunit influenza A/Hong Kong/1073/99 (H9N2) vaccine in healthy adults: phase I randomised trial. Lancet. 2003;362(9400):1959–66.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Stephenson I, Heath A, Major D, Newman RW, Hoschler K, Junzi W, et al. Reproducibility of serologic assays for influenza virus A (H5N1). Emerg Infect Dis. 2009;15(8):1252–9.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Buchy P, Vong S, Chu S, Garcia JM, Hien TT, Hien VM, et al. Kinetics of neutralizing antibodies in patients naturally infected by H5N1 virus. PLoS One. 2010;5(5):e10864.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
45.
46.
47.
48.
Dohoo IR, Martin W, Stryhn H. Veterinary epidemiologic research. 2nd ed. University of Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Island, Canada: Atlantic Veterinary College Inc; 2010. p. 865.
Metadata
Title
Serological evidence of H9N2 avian influenza virus exposure among poultry workers from Fars province of Iran
Authors
A. Heidari
M. Mancin
H. Nili
G. H. Pourghanbari
K. B. Lankarani
S. Leardini
G. Cattoli
I. Monne
A. Piccirillo
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Virology Journal / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1743-422X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-016-0472-z

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Virology Journal 1/2016 Go to the issue

Research

Analysis of HIV-1 intersubtype recombination breakpoints suggests region with high pairing probability may be a more fundamental factor than sequence similarity affecting HIV-1 recombination

Research

Cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A1 regulates HIV-1 minus-strand DNA elongation in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages

Research

Functional prediction of differentially expressed lncRNAs in HSV-1 infected human foreskin fibroblasts

Research

Breadth and magnitude of antigen-specific antibody responses in the control of plasma viremia in simian immunodeficiency virus infected macaques

Erratum

Erratum to: Detection of chikungunya virus in saliva and urine

Short report

Circulating serotypes of dengue virus and their incursion into non-endemic areas of Pakistan; a serious threat

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Heart Failure Video

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Watch now

Watch this official video from ACC.24 to hear Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discuss last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits