Comparative pathogenic potential of avian influenza H7N3 viruses isolated from wild birds in Egypt and their sensitivity to commercial antiviral drugs

Active surveillance and studying the virological features of avian-origin influenza viruses are essential for early warning and preparedness for the next potential pandemic. During our active surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild birds in Egypt in the period 2014-2017, multiple reassortant low-pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 viruses were isolated. In this study, we investigated and compared the infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmission of four different constellation forms of Egyptian H7N3 viruses in chickens and mice and assessed the sensitivity of these viruses to different commercial antiviral drugs in vitro. Considerable variation in virus pathogenicity was observed in mice infected with different H7N3 viruses. The mortality rate ranged from 20 to 100% in infected mice. Infected chickens showed only ocular clinical signs at three days postinfection as well as systemic viral infection in different organs. Efficient virus replication and transmission in chickens was observed within each group, indicating that these subtypes can spread easily from wild birds to poultry without prior adaptation. Mutations in the viral proteins associated with antiviral drug resistance were not detected, and all strains were sensitive to the antiviral drugs tested. In conclusion, all of the viruses studied had the ability to infect mice and chickens. H7N3 viruses circulating among wild birds in Egypt could threaten poultry production and public health.