Abstract
As a result of an US interagency avian influenza surveillance effort in wild birds, four isolates of influenza A viruses were initially identified as H7 by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) but subsequently identified as H16 through genetic sequence analysis. We report the development of internal primers for amplification and cycle-sequencing of the full-length H16 gene, increased detection of H16 within the US, and possible steric inhibition or cross-reaction between H7 and H16 antigens during the conventional HI assay. The latter could have critical implications for poultry operations if H16 viruses are detected and mistakenly reported as H7 viruses.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Wildlife Services Disease Biologists for collecting samples. Funding was provided from the Wildlife Services National Wildlife Disease Program. We also acknowledge Robert McLean, Seth Swafford, and Tom DeLiberto. No commercial products used in this study are endorsed by the USDA.
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VanDalen, K.K., Anderson, T.D., Killian, M.L. et al. Increased detection of influenza A H16 in the United States. Arch Virol 153, 1981–1983 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-008-0213-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-008-0213-8