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Genetic and antigenic analysis of epidemic influenza viruses isolated during 2006–2007 season in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Lin JihHui,
Chiu ShuChun,
Lee ChengHao,
Su YungJui,
Tsai HanChuan,
Peng YenTzu,
Wu HoSeng
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21074
Subject(s) - virology , biology , h5n1 genetic structure , antigenic drift , antigen , antigenic shift , antigenic variation , virus , influenza a virus , genetics , covid-19 , medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , pathology
Influenza viruses are some of the most active pathogens in Taiwan. The monitoring influenza activity has been coordinated by the Centers for Diseases Control, Taiwan, and the surveillance is based on integrated clinical and virological surveillance components. Data from sentinel physician networks and other sources, mainly hospitals were collected. During 2006‐07 season, a total of 1724 cases of laboratory‐confirmed influenza were reported by collaborating laboratories and sentinels, which was five fold higher than during the corresponding part of the 2005‐06 season. Of the Taiwan isolates analyzed using post‐infection ferret antisera, 1.5% were H1N1 (A/Hi), 21.5% H3N2 (A/H3), and 77.0% influenza B viruses. This reflects the predominance of influenza B viruses during 2006‐07 season. In addition, continued antigenic drift was seen with the A/I‐B viruses compared with the previous season's reference strains. However, an increasing number of recent A/H3 isolates characterized in our report were amantadine sensitive. Preparation for an influenza pandemic is presently a high priority in Taiwan. Laboratory‐based surveillance systems must be timely in order to be effective. The data presented here highlights the need to characterize the circulating strains both antigenically and genetically during regular surveillance. Any contribution of individual genes or gene combinations to usual or unusual epidemic characteristics might thus be identified ensuring that virus strains can be selected for vaccine formulation that will most closely match the circulating viruses. J. Med. Virol. 80:316–322, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.