- [1]
- From: Irene Lai
- Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005
- Source: Kompas, 9 Apr 2005 [translated from Indonesian,
edited]
-
- Indonesia: Avian Influenza Virus Identified in Pigs
-
- Ca Nidom, a molecular biology researcher from [the Centre
for] Tropical Disease Control, Airlangga University, Surabaya, East Java,
has reportedly identified avian influenza virus in throat swabs and sera
of pigs by RT-PCR. [District location not mentioned].
-
- Inactivated RNA isolates have been sent to the Tokyo
University, where 8 fragments (HA, NA, PA, PB1, PB2, M, NP, NS) were sequenced.
Results showed that the virus was [structurally?] similar to the avian
influenza virus from poultry, and is characterised by high pathogenicity
(based on the study regarding the cleavage site).
-
- Dr. Irene Lai
- International SOS
-
- ******
- [2]
- Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005
- From: Irene Lai
- Source: Kompas, 5 Apr 2005 [5 first paragraphs translated
from
- Indonesian, edited]
- http://www.kompas.com/kompas%2Dcetak/0504/12/ekonomi/1676599.htm
-
- Indonesia: Agriculture Department To Investigate Avian
Influenza Virus In Pigs
-
- The Department of Agriculture will study the discovery
of avian influenza virus from infected pigs. The agriculture department
will carry out sampling from several pig farms. More research is needed,
especially regarding the background and route through which the infection
of pigs with avian flu virus took place.
-
- The Minister of Agriculture, Anton Apriyantono, said
to the journalist on Mon, 11 Apr 2005 in Jakarta, that his staff has already
ordered the General Director of Farming Production to investigate that
finding. "We need confirmation because the news is not clear yet.
First, it is not clear where the pigs are originally from, what is their
current location and which type of pigs have been involved". The General
Director of Farming Production will assist the veterinary investigators
in studying samples from pigs. "We are already working on it",
said Anton
-
- As broadcast on Saturday, the molecular biology researcher
in Airlangga University, CA Nidom, discovered the avian influenza virus
in pigs. The finding was based on identification of [DNA/RNA?] and might
be interpreted as indicative for the presence of new avian influenza cases
in Indonesia. "We are responding to that report by taking samples
from pigs in Indonesia. Is it correct that pigs have been infected? For
me this is still the question", he said.
-
- Dr. Irene Lai International SOS
-
- [ProMED-mail is grateful to Dr Lai for sending us the
above translated reports. - Mod.AS]
-
- These reports are somewhat contradictory. On the one
hand it is suggested that the complete genome of an avian influenza virus
isolated from a pig in Indonesia has been sequenced from RT-PCR fragments,
whereas on the other hand the presence of avian influenza virus infection
in pigs in Indonesia has still to be confirmed by isolation of infectious
virus. The serotype of the virus does not appear to have been established,
so it cannot be assumed at this stage that the virus is the H5N1 East Asian
epidemic strain.
-
- However, although the situation is somewhat confused,
these reports cannot be dismissed lightly, because the presence of H5N1
virus in pigs might increase the risk of adaptation of the epidemic avian
influenza virus to growth and transmission in mammals -- although it should
be emphasized that the role of pigs as mixing vessels in the generation
of pandemic influenza viruses is no more than a hypothesis. Further information
is awaited with some apprehension. -Mod.CP
-
-
- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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