Genomic characterization of velogenic avian orthoavulavirus 1 isolates from poultry workers: Implications to emergence and its zoonotic potential towards public health

Objective:To carry out the genetic characterization and evolutionary analysis of three avian orthoavulavirus 1(AOAV-1)isolates from poultry workers with respiratory symptoms.Methods:Using Illumina Mi Seq,whole-genome sequencing was carried out to assess the evolutionary dynamics of three AOAV-1 isolates.A phylogenetic and comparative analysis of all coding genes was done using bioinformatics tools.Results:Phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance estimation suggested a close relationship among human-and avian-originated velogenic strains of genotypeⅩⅢ,sub-genotypeⅩⅢ.2.1.Several substitutions in the significant structural and biological motifs were exclusively identified in the human-originated strains.Conclusions:To our knowledge,this is the first report of a velogenic AOAV-1 isolate from natural infection of the human upper respiratory tract.Our findings highlight the evolution and zoonotic potential of velogenic AOAV-1 in a disease endemic setting.

Sero-Epidemiological Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever among the Human Population of the Punjab Province in Pakistan

Dear Editor,Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever(CCHF),caused by the CCHF virus(CCHFV),is a tick-borne zoonotic infection characterized by myalgia,high-grade fever(>38℃),headache,nausea,bleeding from the body cavities,and in 10%–50%of cases,results in death(Swanepoel et al.1989).As CCHFV belongs to the Nairoviridae family,the virus can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks or by contact with the tissues or blood of infected animals(Bente et al.2013).