Genomic analysis of antigenically related avian paramyxoviruses

Six avian paramyxoviruses isolated from wild and domestic ducks in the United States, Hong Kong and Japan were characterized antigenically and genetically. All viruses examined were shown to be antigenically closely related. Oligonucleotide patterns of duck/Miss/334 and duck/Miss/406 were apparently distinguishable from those of duck/Miss/116 and duck/Miss/320 isolated in the same area of the United States. On the other hand, two viruses isolated from a domestic duck in Hong Kong (duck/Hong Kong/D3/75) and from a domestic duck in Japan (duck/Tokyo/41/78) were genetically very similar to that of duck/Miss/116, suggesting that these three viruses represent a genetically homogeneous group and may be of the same origin.