Author/Authors :
Ahad, Abdul University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences - Department of Microbiology, Pakistan , Rabbani, Masood University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences - Department of Microbiology, Pakistan , Mahmood, Altaf University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences - Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Pakistan , Kuthu, Zulfiqar Hussan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences - Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Pakistan , Ahmad, Arfan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences - Department of Microbiology, Pakistan , Mahmudur Rahman, Muhammad Bangladesh Agricultural University - Department of Pharmacology, Bangladesh
Abstract :
Influenza A viruses infect various mammals like human, horse, pig and birds as well. A total of 16 hemagglutinin (HA) and 9 neuraminidase (NA) subtypes have been identified. Most of the combinations are found in birds and relatively few have been isolated from mammals. Although there is no report of human to human transmission till to date, several cases of H5N1, H7N7 and H9N2 identified in humans since 1997 raised serious concern for health and veterinary profession. This review paper will focus H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) with special emphasis on zoonosis. The virus H9N2 though not highly pathogenic like H5N1 but can be virulent through antigenic drift and shift.
