Molecular Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H5N1 in Ostrich

The highly pathogenic Avian influenza virus H5N1 (HPAIV-H5N1) represents an important poultry pathogen and a major havoc to the poultry industry. Furthermore, H5N1 infections in poultry constitute a threat to mammals including humans. Egypt has been affected by a HPAI H5N1 since 2006 and the virus still circulates in poultry population until now. Among the great number of species affected by the virus, ostrich have been occasionally infected worldwide. In the present study, we report a detailed molecular characterization of H5N1 virus isolated from ostrich farm during 2010 and study the virulence markers and other point mutations in HA, NA and other internal genes and proteins associated with traits such as specific-host receptor affinity and some antiviral resistance markers.