Characterization of an H4N2 avian influenza virus isolated from domestic duck in Dongting Lake wetland in 2009.

In January 2009, an H4N2 subtype of avian influenza virus [A/duck/Hunan/8-19/2009 (H4N2)] was isolated from domestic ducks in Dongting Lake wetland. The whole genome of the virus was sequenced and the results indicated that multiple gene segments of the virus had a high homology with viruses isolated from wild waterfowl, which indicated that the virus was probably transmitted from wild waterfowl to domestic ducks. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the each gene belonged to the Eurasian lineage of avian influenza viruses, but genetic reassortment occurs between viruses of different subtypes.