A novel reassortant H1N2 virus related to the pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza virus isolated from Korean pigs

Abstract

Since the discovery of the pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus in 2009, a novel reassortant H1N2 virus (A/Swine/Korea/VDS1/2010) containing the pH1N1 segments has been detected in Korean pig populations. The hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of this virus are derived from reassortant H1N1- and H1N2-group viruses, respectively, identified in Korean pigs, while other genes originate from contemporary circulating pH1N1 viruses. The antigenic and biological properties of this novel virus, as determined by clinical, pathological, serological, and genetic analyses, are similar to those of pH1N1 viruses, which infect swine easily (Weingartl et al. J Virol 84:2245-2256, 2010; Brookes et al. PLoS one 5:e9068, 2010; Lange et al. J Gen Virol 90:2119-2123, 2009). Determining whether this virus will become established and pose a threat to mammalian populations requires further investigation.