CENTER FOR VETERINARY BIOLOGICS NOTICE NO. 15-07

TO: Biologics Licensees, Permittees, and Applicants

Directors, Center for Veterinary Biologics

Veterinary Services Leadership Team

FROM: Byron Rippke

Director

Center for Veterinary Biologics

SUBJECT: Availability of Avian Influenza Isolates

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this notice is to inform interested parties that samples of highly 

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isolates are available for purchase from the 

National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).

II. BACKGROUND

H5N1 HPAI virus emerged in China during 1996 and has subsequently evolved into 

diverse clades and subclades. Beginning in January 2014, a distinct group of HPAI 

H5 reassortant viruses (H5N8 subclade 2.3.4.4) caused outbreaks in poultry in South 

Korea. By late 2014, it had spread to Japan, the Russian Federation, and Europe, 

with multiple isolations occurring from wild birds, including apparently healthy 

birds. 

HPAI viruses originating from Eurasia spread rapidly along wild bird migratory 

pathways from the Eastern to the Western Hemisphere during 2014 and continue to 

be detected in the United States. The index cases in the United States were detected 

in Whatcom County, Washington. A 2.3.4.4 HPAI H5N8 virus was isolated from a 

captive gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) that hunted and fed on wild birds, and an H5N2 

virus was isolated from a wild Northern pintail (Anas acuta) that was found dead in 

the same area. Initial phylogenetic analysis of the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses detected 

in the United States indicated the Eurasian lineage avian H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 virus 

survived introduction to North America in its entirety.

All U.S. HPAI viruses genetically analyzed to date are very similar, have an HA gene 

derived from the Eurasian H5 clade 2.3.4.4, and are highly pathogenic in poultry.

Both the H5N2 and H5N8 strains have been implicated in recent poultry outbreaks. 

Molecular evidence indicates that independent introductions as well as “common 

source” exposures are occurring in several states concurrently. In February 2015, the 

Eurasian H5N2 virus was isolated from commercial poultry in the Midwestern United

States and has been detected in commercial or backyard poultry in 13 states, affecting

Animal and Plant

Health Inspection

Service

Veterinary Services

Center for Veterinary 

Biologics

1920 Dayton Avenue

PO Box 844

Ames, IA 50010

(515) 337-6100

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

BYRON 

RIPPKE

Digitally signed by BYRON RIPPKE 

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, 

ou=Department of Agriculture, cn=BYRON 

RIPPKE, 

0.9.2342.19200300.100.1.1=12001000004093 

Date: 2015.06.10 07:39:02 -05'00'
CENTER FOR VETERINARY BIOLOGICS NOTICE NO. 15-07

Page 2

nearly 40 million birds as of May 2015. The poultry isolates characterized to date are 

>99% similar to the index viruses.

III. ACTION

Veterinary Services is making selected viruses available to facilities with appropriate 

Select Agent registration to encourage disease research and development to benefit the 

U.S. poultry industry, courtesy of the United States Geological Services (USGS),

National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), Washington State, and the Minnesota Board 

of Animal Health. Isolates available include:

x A/Northern pintail/Washington/40964/2014(H5N2) – courtesy of USGS 

NWHC and Washington State 

x A/gyrfalcon/Washington/41088-6/2014(H5N8) – courtesy of USGS, NWHC,

and Washington State 

x A/turkey/Minnesota/9845-4/2015(H5N2) – courtesy of the Minnesota Board of 

Animal Health

Biologics firms with appropriate Select Agent Registration that wish to obtain samples of 

these isolates for research purposes should:

A. Contact the NVSL Diagnostic Virology Laboratory at (515) 337-7551 for 

guidance regarding the appropriate forms and payments to submit.

B. Submit the completed forms and the payment associated with the order by one of the 

following methods:

1. Mail: NVSL User Fees, Box 844, Ames, Iowa 50010 

2. Email: NVSL_concerns@aphis.usda.gov. 

C. Note that these isolates must be transferred in compliance with the Select Agent 

Regulations. No Material Transfer Agreement will be required. These isolates are not 

pre-tested Master Seeds; they are being made available for research and development. 

The availability of these isolates does not infer any impending change in vaccination 

policy.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION/ APPLICABILITY

These reagents are currently available from the NVSL. 

 An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer