In experiments to infect aquatic invertebrates in the zooculture, we used influenza A viruses, namely, to infect crustaceans Daphnia magna Straus, 1826 – human influenza virus, Hong Kong strain 1569/79 (H3N2), and to infect molluscs Anodonta cygnea Linné, 1758 – influenza virus A birds, Strain Rostok 1/34 (Hav1Neq1) – the so-called true bird plague virus. As a result of a series of experiments, found that influenza A viruses persist in the water for no more than 3 days, while in the gills and mantle of molluscs the virus is isolated on chicken embryos for at least another 35 days after contact with virus-containing water (a total of 70 individuals were studied). From the body Daphnia magna, to isolate the human influenza A virus on chicken embryos was possible within 14 days after infection through water (examined 6,800 individuals), by the method of immunofluorescence the influenza virus was determined in the intestines of crustaceans during the entire period of observation – 70 days from the time of infection. Influenza A viruses do not have a harmful effect on crustaceans or molluscs, infected animals also develop and reproduce, as well as individuals of control groups. Interesting is the fact that we have established the possibility of the loss of agglutination of red blood cells of chickens as a result of the reproduction of the human influenza A virus in the body of invertebrate Daphnia magna, which indicates a change in the viral protein hemagglutinin. The use of aquatic invertebrate zooculture can help in the study of the circulation of influenza A viruses in nature, as well as in the study of the variability of influenza A viruses.
Genome analysis of a low-pathogenic H5N2 influenza virus that kills chicken embryos