Isolation and identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus from Houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii) and contact falcons

Figures & data

Table 1.  Type of samples processed and the results of virus isolation and RRT-PCR from different clinical samples collected in Houbara bustards and falcons

Sample type (number of birds sampled)	Virus isolation	RRT-PCR
One pool of trachea swabs (5 birds)^a	+(1/1)	+(1/1)
One pool of cloacal swabs (5 birds)^a	+(1/1)	+(1/1)
Brain (6 Houbara bustards; 2 falcons)	+(6/6; 2/2)	+(6/6; 2/2)
Trachea (6 Houbara bustards; 2 falcons)	+(6/6; 2/2)	+(6/6; 2/2)
Lungs (6 Houbara bustards; 2 falcons)	+(6/6; 2/2)	+(6/6; 2/2)
Spleen (6 Houbara bustards)	+(6/6)	+(6/6)
Intestine (6 Houbara bustards)	+(6/6)	+(6/6)
Data presented as the number positive/total. ^aCollected in live Houbara bustards only (showing signs of disease).

Figure 1.  Unrooted phylogenetic tree for representative HA nucleotide sequences of clade 2.2 constructed by the neighbour-joining method. Black circles, sequences generated from the viruses described in this study. Selected A/H5N1 viral sequences are included for comparison. White circles, sequences generated from viruses isolated in poultry in the KSA. Bootstrap values >50% are shown at the nodes. Genetic sublineages included in lineage 2.2 are indicated on the right-hand side.