News

The Reference Laboratory for Poultry Viral Diseases of the FGBI “Federal Centre for Animal Health” subordinated to the Rosselkhoznadzor has successfully conducted interlaboratory commissioning trials and completed development of real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of H9 subtype avian influenza virus genome.

To date, 16 hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes and 9 neuraminidase (NA) subtypes have been identified among type A avian influenza viruses. In the variety of subtypes H9 subtype avian influenza viruses (particularly H9N2 subtype) are considered to be opportunistic pathogens which are wide spread in poultry industry in Asian and Near Eastern countries. In most cases the virus does not cause apparent clinical signs in birds, however the disease is complicated by secondary viral and bacterial infections, that results in significant economic losses. There is risk of introduction of this pathogen into the territory of the Russian Federation given that the similar case was earlier detected by the Rosselkhoznadzor in the Far Eastern Federal District in 2012.

Avian influenza virus isolation in SPF embryonated chicken eggs is a standard method but the use of real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) is crucial for modern AI diagnosis owing to high sensitivity, specificity, speed and express results. This is the assay that has been developed by the Reference Laboratory for Avian Viral Diseases of the FGBI “ARRIAH” and proposed for usage in the veterinary practice.

Press Office of the FGBI “ARRIAH”