Experimental direct-contact Transmission of Influenza A/H9N2 Virus in the Guinea Pig Model in Iran

Abstract

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate risk factors for the transmission of A/H9N2 viruses in guinea pig model. Materials & methods: Lung tissue samples were collected from the chicken clinically infected with influenza A/H9N2 virus in 2018. Next, virus isolation and titration, as well as reverse transcription PCR were performed. Then, hemagglutnation and neuraminidase genes was sequenced to identify different positions (hotspots) involved in transmission and host adaptation. Results: Influenza A/H9N2 virus could replicate in low titers in the nasal turbinate and transmit from infected to noninfected guinea pigs. Conclusion: Hotspots on the surface glycoproteins had the potential to alter transmission properties in the new host.

Keywords:

• guinea pig
• influenza A/H9N2 virus
• risk assessment
• TCID50 assay
• viral infection

Acknowledgments

The authors of the study would like to thank Dr. Salehi Qumi for his help with sample collection.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This research was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Campus (Grant No: 96-03-103-36383) as a part of PhD project. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.