ISOLATION OF INFLUENZA-A VIRUS, SUBTYPE H5N2, AND AVIAN PARAMYXOVIRUSTYPE-1 FROM A FLOCK OF OSTRICHES IN EUROPE

A total of 146 of 506 ostriches (Struthio camelus) introduced into a q uarantine in Denmark died within the first 23 days. The majority of de aths were in young birds up to 10 kg body weight. Avian influenza A vi ruses (AIVs) were isolated from 14 pools of organ tissues representing seven groups each of three or four ostriches, which died over the fir st 3 weeks. The AIVs were detected in respiratory tissues, kidneys and intestines. All were subtype H5N2. The intravenous pathogenicity inde x of each isolate for chickens was 0.0 and the four isolates examined each had the amino acid sequence -P-Q-R-E-T-RG-L-F- at the cleavage s ite of the haemagglutinin protein, typical of non-pathogenic AIVs. In addition, an avirulent avian paramyxovirus type 1 virus was isolated f rom one pool of kidney tissues. Bacteriological examination gave no si gnificant results. The most characteristic pathological findings were impaction of the proventriculus and gizzard, enteritis with stasis and multi-focal necrotic hepatitis.