H5N2
Encyclopedia
H5
N2
is a subtype of the species Influenzavirus A
(avian influenza virus or bird flu virus).
, USA in chickens and turkeys, in 1994 in Mexico
in chickens and a minor outbreak in 1997 in Italy
in chickens.
In Korea, ducks have been destroyed at the farm since quarantine officials detected the suspected low pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza on December 1, 2004.
In Japan, H5N2 virus was isolated or an anti-H5 antibody was identified from chickens in 40 chicken farms in Ibaraki Prefecture and in one chicken farm in Saitama Prefecture from June through December 2005. The strain was named as A/ chicken /Ibaraki/1/2005(H5N2). About 5.7 million birds were destroyed in Ibaraki following the H5N2 outbreaks.
It was reported on November 12, 2005 that "One of 2 birds found infected with bird flu in Kuwait
has the H5N1
strain of the virus, authorities said. The infected bird was a migrating flamingo
found on a Kuwait beach. The other was an imported falcon
found to have the milder H5N2 variant."
In China
, inactivated H5N2 has been used as a vaccine
for H5N1
.
In 2006, an H5N2 outbreak on a single farm in South Africa
resulted in the destruction of all its sixty ostrich
es. The strain was similar to the one that caused outbreaks in South Africa 2004/2005.
In 2007, a low-pathogenic strain of H5N2 was found in samples collected from 25,000 turkeys in Pendleton County, West Virginia
in a routine testing prior to their slaughter. The birds showed no sign of illness or mortality. Measures were taken to prevent the virus from mutating and spreading.
In late 2007 (December 21), an H5N2 outbreak was found in the Dominican Republic
, in a Suburb of Higuey City, on the eastern side of the island. 15 roosters and 2 hens where eliminated even though they had no visible sign of infection.
In May and June 2008, there were three outbreaks of low-pathogenic H5N2 avian flu in birds at three locations in the central, northern, and southern parts of Haiti
. "The outbreaks began on May 20 and appeared to be ongoing", as of June 17, 2008.
In Taiwan, outbreaks of H5N2 have been confirmed in December 2008.
's Health Ministry said in January, 2006 that poultry farm workers in Ibaraki prefecture may have been exposed to H5N2 (which was not previously known to infect humans) in 2005. Data were collected from 257 workers at 35 chicken farms by Ibaraki prefectural government. Using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test
, it was determined that the H5N2 antibody titers of the second samples of paired sera were significantly higher than those of the first samples (p<0.001). The H5N2 antibody titers of paired sera of 13 subjects increased fourfold or more. The results suggest that this may have been the first avian influenza H5N2 infection from poultry to affect humans.
Hemagglutinin
Influenza hemagglutinin or haemagglutinin is a type of hemagglutinin found on the surface of the influenza viruses. It is an antigenic glycoprotein. It is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected...
N2
Neuraminidase
Neuraminidase enzymes are glycoside hydrolase enzymes that cleave the glycosidic linkages of neuraminic acids. Neuraminidase enzymes are a large family, found in a range of organisms. The most commonly known neuraminidase is the viral neuraminidase, a drug target for the prevention of the spread...
is a subtype of the species Influenzavirus A
Influenzavirus A
Influenza A virus causes influenza in birds and some mammals and is the only species of Influenzavirus A. Influenzavirus A is a genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses. Strains of all subtypes of influenza A virus have been isolated from wild birds, although disease is uncommon...
(avian influenza virus or bird flu virus).
H5N2 and birds
Low pathogenic avian inluenza H5N2 virus in poultry later gained accentuated virulence in the United States and Mexico. A highly pathogenic strain of H5N2 caused flu outbreaks with significant spread to numerous farms, resulting in great economic losses in 1983 in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA in chickens and turkeys, in 1994 in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in chickens and a minor outbreak in 1997 in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in chickens.
In Korea, ducks have been destroyed at the farm since quarantine officials detected the suspected low pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza on December 1, 2004.
In Japan, H5N2 virus was isolated or an anti-H5 antibody was identified from chickens in 40 chicken farms in Ibaraki Prefecture and in one chicken farm in Saitama Prefecture from June through December 2005. The strain was named as A/ chicken /Ibaraki/1/2005(H5N2). About 5.7 million birds were destroyed in Ibaraki following the H5N2 outbreaks.
It was reported on November 12, 2005 that "One of 2 birds found infected with bird flu in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
has the H5N1
H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu", A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species...
strain of the virus, authorities said. The infected bird was a migrating flamingo
Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
found on a Kuwait beach. The other was an imported falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
found to have the milder H5N2 variant."
In China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, inactivated H5N2 has been used as a vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
for H5N1
H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu", A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species...
.
In 2006, an H5N2 outbreak on a single farm in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
resulted in the destruction of all its sixty ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es. The strain was similar to the one that caused outbreaks in South Africa 2004/2005.
In 2007, a low-pathogenic strain of H5N2 was found in samples collected from 25,000 turkeys in Pendleton County, West Virginia
Pendleton County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,196 people, 3,350 households, and 2,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 5,102 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
in a routine testing prior to their slaughter. The birds showed no sign of illness or mortality. Measures were taken to prevent the virus from mutating and spreading.
In late 2007 (December 21), an H5N2 outbreak was found in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, in a Suburb of Higuey City, on the eastern side of the island. 15 roosters and 2 hens where eliminated even though they had no visible sign of infection.
In May and June 2008, there were three outbreaks of low-pathogenic H5N2 avian flu in birds at three locations in the central, northern, and southern parts of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. "The outbreaks began on May 20 and appeared to be ongoing", as of June 17, 2008.
In Taiwan, outbreaks of H5N2 have been confirmed in December 2008.
H5N2 and humans
JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Health Ministry said in January, 2006 that poultry farm workers in Ibaraki prefecture may have been exposed to H5N2 (which was not previously known to infect humans) in 2005. Data were collected from 257 workers at 35 chicken farms by Ibaraki prefectural government. Using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test
Wilcoxon signed-rank test
The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is a non-parametric statistical hypothesis test used when comparing two related samples or repeated measurements on a single sample to assess whether their population mean ranks differ The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is a non-parametric statistical hypothesis test used...
, it was determined that the H5N2 antibody titers of the second samples of paired sera were significantly higher than those of the first samples (p<0.001). The H5N2 antibody titers of paired sera of 13 subjects increased fourfold or more. The results suggest that this may have been the first avian influenza H5N2 infection from poultry to affect humans.
Further reading
- CIDRAP article H5N2 virus identified in Canadian turkey outbreak published Feb 4, 2009