Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China

Avian influenza viruses continue to challenge poultry and human health; therefore, careful surveillance and evaluation of emerging viruses are important for animal disease control and human influenza pandemic preparedness. In this study, we detected a series of H3N3 subtype avian influenza viruses i...

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Main Authors: Cheng Yan, Jianzhong Shi, Pengfei Cui, Yuan Chen, Congcong Wang, Yan Wang, Jiahao Miao, Yaping Zhang, Huihui Kong, Xianying Zeng, Guobin Tian, Chengjun Li, Yasuo Suzuki, Guohua Deng, Hualan Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2509748
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author Cheng Yan
Jianzhong Shi
Pengfei Cui
Yuan Chen
Congcong Wang
Yan Wang
Jiahao Miao
Yaping Zhang
Huihui Kong
Xianying Zeng
Guobin Tian
Chengjun Li
Yasuo Suzuki
Guohua Deng
Hualan Chen
author_facet Cheng Yan
Jianzhong Shi
Pengfei Cui
Yuan Chen
Congcong Wang
Yan Wang
Jiahao Miao
Yaping Zhang
Huihui Kong
Xianying Zeng
Guobin Tian
Chengjun Li
Yasuo Suzuki
Guohua Deng
Hualan Chen
author_sort Cheng Yan
collection DOAJ
description Avian influenza viruses continue to challenge poultry and human health; therefore, careful surveillance and evaluation of emerging viruses are important for animal disease control and human influenza pandemic preparedness. In this study, we detected a series of H3N3 subtype avian influenza viruses in chickens, pigeons, and ducks during our routine surveillance and diagnosis between September 2022 and May 2023. We performed extensive analyses to fully understand the origins of these viruses and their risk to animals and humans. We found that the viruses were complex reassortants; the viruses from chickens and pigeons carry genes mainly derived from H3N8 viruses and H10N3 viruses, whereas the two duck viruses were reassortants of duck and wild bird viruses. The chicken and pigeon, but not duck, viruses replicated in multiple organs of chickens and were shed for up to 13 days, but none caused disease or death. Six of the viruses tested all bound to both avian- and human-type receptors. Seventeen viruses were tested in mice and most replicated efficiently but were not lethal. Six viruses were tested in guinea pigs, and four of them transmitted efficiently via respiratory droplets. Our study thus identified novel H3N3 avian influenza viruses and revealed their zoonotic potential, thereby emphasizing the importance of careful monitoring and control of H3 viruses in animals.
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spelling doaj-art-a4d1c1679ddd4938855e78d7fa3949be2025-08-20T03:05:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512025-12-0114110.1080/22221751.2025.2509748Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in ChinaCheng Yan0Jianzhong Shi1Pengfei Cui2Yuan Chen3Congcong Wang4Yan Wang5Jiahao Miao6Yaping Zhang7Huihui Kong8Xianying Zeng9Guobin Tian10Chengjun Li11Yasuo Suzuki12Guohua Deng13Hualan Chen14State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, JapanState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaAvian influenza viruses continue to challenge poultry and human health; therefore, careful surveillance and evaluation of emerging viruses are important for animal disease control and human influenza pandemic preparedness. In this study, we detected a series of H3N3 subtype avian influenza viruses in chickens, pigeons, and ducks during our routine surveillance and diagnosis between September 2022 and May 2023. We performed extensive analyses to fully understand the origins of these viruses and their risk to animals and humans. We found that the viruses were complex reassortants; the viruses from chickens and pigeons carry genes mainly derived from H3N8 viruses and H10N3 viruses, whereas the two duck viruses were reassortants of duck and wild bird viruses. The chicken and pigeon, but not duck, viruses replicated in multiple organs of chickens and were shed for up to 13 days, but none caused disease or death. Six of the viruses tested all bound to both avian- and human-type receptors. Seventeen viruses were tested in mice and most replicated efficiently but were not lethal. Six viruses were tested in guinea pigs, and four of them transmitted efficiently via respiratory droplets. Our study thus identified novel H3N3 avian influenza viruses and revealed their zoonotic potential, thereby emphasizing the importance of careful monitoring and control of H3 viruses in animals.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2509748Avian influenza virusH3N3evolutionguinea pigtransmission
spellingShingle Cheng Yan
Jianzhong Shi
Pengfei Cui
Yuan Chen
Congcong Wang
Yan Wang
Jiahao Miao
Yaping Zhang
Huihui Kong
Xianying Zeng
Guobin Tian
Chengjun Li
Yasuo Suzuki
Guohua Deng
Hualan Chen
Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Avian influenza virus
H3N3
evolution
guinea pig
transmission
title Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
title_full Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
title_fullStr Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
title_short Characterization of emerging H3N3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in China
title_sort characterization of emerging h3n3 avian influenza viruses in poultry in china
topic Avian influenza virus
H3N3
evolution
guinea pig
transmission
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2025.2509748
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