2026-10-14T06:49:18Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33973297 2026-09-23T12:57:52Z category_7 category_8 category_13 category_14 category_24 category_272 category_39 category_46 category_734 category_64 category_132 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Avian metapneumovirus infections in poultry flocks in Poland – molecular evidence for emerging divergence from vaccine strains Kamila Dziadek (11110154) Joanna Sajewicz-Krukowska (25097380) Anna Lisowska (12437910) Justyna Opolska (19715075) Marcin Śmiałek (6894371) Katarzyna Domanska-Blicharz (19715072) Medicine Microbiology Genetics Molecular Biology Evolutionary Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Ecology Immunology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Cancer Infectious Diseases Avian metapneumovirus aMPV subtype A subtype B molecular epidemiology Poland <p>Despite available vaccination strategies, respiratory disease caused by avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has increased in Polish poultry in recent years. Between 2022 and 2025, 48 aMPV outbreaks were confirmed in chicken and turkey flocks, with positive vaccination status reported for 25 flocks. Subtyping and phylogenetic analyses based on partial glycoprotein (G) gene sequences revealed a predominance of aMPV subtype B (<i>n</i> = 47) and a single subtype A. Forty-two aMPV-B strains clustered in a distinct “Polish field” group, whereas four associated with vaccine strains. Full-length genomes were obtained for two chicken-origin aMPV-B viruses, enabling comprehensive phylogenetic and molecular characterization of individual viral genes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that these strains formed a separate branch within the cluster of early European and vaccine strains, whereas American and Asian strains form distinct clusters. Considerable evolutionary divergence from other European aMPV-B strains within this cluster was evident. A gap of over 30 years separates the first European aMPV-B strains (1980s–1990s) from Polish strains from 2022–2023. Analysis of amino acid sequences revealed numerous substitutions in the surface G and SH proteins, including changes in regions implicated in antigenicity, receptor binding, and immune recognition. These alterations may modify viral epitopes, potentially contributing to immune escape and reducing the efficacy of current vaccines. Overall, the presented study underscores the importance of continuous genomic surveillance of circulating strains, particularly given the limited availability of complete European aMPV genomes, to better inform vaccine design and disease control measures.</p> <p></p><p>Despite use of aMPV vaccines, clinical signs of disease caused by aMPV infection with field strains were widely reported in poultry production in Poland.</p><p>The strains detected formed a distinct cluster of “Polish field strains”.</p><p>Two complete aMPV-B genomes revealed several non-synonymous mutations, especially in G and SH genes, that may account for the poor protection provided by the vaccines.</p><p>Phylogenetic analysis of two Polish complete genomes revealed a significant genetic distance from available aMPV-B strains.</p><p></p> <p>Despite use of aMPV vaccines, clinical signs of disease caused by aMPV infection with field strains were widely reported in poultry production in Poland.</p> <p>The strains detected formed a distinct cluster of “Polish field strains”.</p> <p>Two complete aMPV-B genomes revealed several non-synonymous mutations, especially in G and SH genes, that may account for the poor protection provided by the vaccines.</p> <p>Phylogenetic analysis of two Polish complete genomes revealed a significant genetic distance from available aMPV-B strains.</p> 2026-09-23T12:57:52Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.33973297.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Avian_metapneumovirus_infections_in_poultry_flocks_in_Poland_molecular_evidence_for_emerging_divergence_from_vaccine_strains/33973297 CC BY 4.0