MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LUNG TISSUE IN MICE BALB/C IN EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION WITH AVIAN INFLUENZA H4N6, ISOLATED FROM THE CASPIAN SEAL (PHOCA CASPICA)

Abstract

Infections caused by the avian influenza virus are a serious problem of veterinary and medicine. It is well known that the natural reservoir of most subtypes of influenza virus are wild waterfowl. It is believed that the cause of influenza pandemics is the penetration of new subtype virus or some of its genes from the natural reservoir. In this regard, it is important to explore the insufficiently known reservoirs, such as marine mammals that are closely in contact with wild birds. In the present study, as a result of monitoring conducted by the Caspian seal population on the coast of the Caspian Sea, located in the European part of Russia, it has been allocated a new avian influenza virus strain of subtype H4N6. The biological properties of the new isolated virus was studied in mice (Balb/с). It has been shown that the strain H4N6 is capable of replicating in the lungs and cause disease in experimental mice. By light microscopy have been revealed pathological changes in lung tissues of experimental group of mice compared with controls. Thus, the most likely that avian influenza virus H4N6, has overcome the species barrier and infect the Caspian seal (Phoca caspica), has the ability to replicate in the lungs of mice and cause their pathological changes.