BACKGROUND A novel swine origin influenza virus (S-OIV) (H1N1) is spreading worldwide and threatens to become pandemic. OBJECTIVES Determine analytical sensitivity of selected commercially available rapid influenza antigen detection tests in detecting S-OIV H1N1. STUDY DESIGN Serial dilutions of two S-OIV isolates, one seasonal influenza A (H1N1) isolate and a nasopharyngeal aspirate from a...

Avian influenza (AI) H9N2 is a low pathogenic virus subtype belonging to Orthomyxoviridae family. Given the prevalence of this subtype as an infectious agent in poultry industry, special attention has been always directed toward the development of vaccine production against this infection. The vaccine of this infection is produced by killing the virus and using a mixture of inactivated antigen ...

background and aims: the novel approaches in influenza vaccination have targeted more conserved viral proteins such as nucleoprotein (np) to provide cross protection against all serotypes of influenza a viruses. influenza specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctl) are able to lyse influenza-infected cells by recognition of np, the major target molecule in virus for ctl responses. on the other hand,...

  In the February 2006 in two wetlands in northern Iran, the mortality among wild swans was observed. Paralysis was the most prominent feature of the disease. Histologically, diffused necrosis of acinar cells in pancreas, degeneration and necrosis of some neurons in central nervous system (CNS), sever necrotic and hemorrhagic enteritis, foci of haemorrahge and myocardial cell necrosis in the he...

Background and Aims: Influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection in mammals and birds. It is caused by an RNA virus in the family Orthomyxoviridae. The virus is divided into three main types. Influenza virus type A is found in a wide variety of bird and mammal species and can undergo major shifts in immunological properties. Hemagglutinin (HA) is an important influenza virus surface antigen that...

The purpose of this statement is to update recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of influenza in children. The key points for the upcoming 2012-2013 season are: (1) this year's trivalent influenza vaccine contains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like antigen (derived from influenza A [H1N1] pdm09 [pH1N1] vir...

Rapid tests for influenza antigen detection are frequently used, but it is not known how receipt of intranasal influenza vaccine affects results of these tests. We tested healthy adults who received either intranasal or intramuscular influenza vaccine. Of the 14 intranasal vaccine recipients, 7 (50%) had a direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA) result and 2 (14%) had an enzyme immunoassay (EIA)...

The rapid diagnosis of influenza is critical in optimizing clinical management. Rapid antigen tests have decreased sensitivity in detecting pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus compared to seasonal influenza A subtypes (53.4% versus 74.2%, P < 0.001). Nucleic acid tests should be used to detect pandemic influenza virus when rapid antigen tests are negative.