Food markets with live birds as source of avian influenza

Abstract

A patient may have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, at a food market that had live birds. Virus genes were detected in 1 of 79 wire cages for birds at 9 markets. One of 110 persons in the poultry business at markets had neutralizing antibody against H5N1.

Figure 1

Detection of avian influenza virus H5N1 from an animal cage for geese by reverse transcription–PCR. Viral RNA was extracted from the sample and amplified by using 3 pairs of primers specific for membrane (M), hemagglutinin (H5), and neuraminidase (N1) virus genes. Sample buffer was used as a negative control, and viral RNA from a human H5N1 virus strain (A/Hong Kong/486/97) was included as a positive control. First lane, molecular mass ladder.

Figure 2

Phylogenetic relationships of representative H5N1 influenza virus strains and patient and animal cage isolates (indicated by asterisks) used in this study. A) Hemagglutinin gene (nt positions 29–1650). B) Neuramidase gene (nt positions 28–1323). Gs, goose; GD, Guangdong; Ck, chicken; CN, People's Republic of China; Dk, duck; HK, Hong Kong; HB, Hebei; FJ, Fujian; GZ, Guangzhou; ST, Shantou; HN, Hunan; WDK, wild duck; GX, Guangxi; AH, Anhui; Qa, quail; YN, Yunnan; BH Gs, brown-headed goose; QH, Qinghai; THA, Thailand, NP, Nakhon Pathom; Vnm, Vietnam; ZJ, Zhejiang; Sw, swine. Scale bars show percentage relatedness.