Aerosolized avian influenza virus by laboratory manipulations

Virology Journal

Zhiping Xia³  Feng Gao²  Dan Li³  Limin Ma²  Lin Li²  Yandong Zhang⁴  Jinsong Li¹  Zhiping Li² 

[1] Insititute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, China;College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China;Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Veterinary Research Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, 130122, China;Department of Rheumatology, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

关键词: Occupational and environmental safety;    Laboratory-associated infections;    Aerosol;    H5N1;   

Others  :  1154264
DOI  :  10.1186/1743-422X-9-146

 received in 2011-09-24, accepted in 2012-07-16,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Avian H5N1 influenza viruses present a challenge in the laboratory environment, as they are difficult to collect from the air due to their small size and relatively low concentration. In an effort to generate effective methods of H5N1 air removal and ensure the safety of laboratory personnel, this study was designed to investigate the characteristics of aerosolized H5N1 produced by laboratory manipulations during research studies.

Results

Normal laboratory procedures used to process the influenza virus were carried out independently and the amount of virus polluting the on-site atmosphere was measured. In particular, zootomy, grinding, centrifugation, pipetting, magnetic stirring, egg inoculation, and experimental zoogenetic infection were performed. In addition, common accidents associated with each process were simulated, including breaking glass containers, syringe injection of influenza virus solution, and rupturing of centrifuge tubes. A micro-cluster sampling ambient air pollution collection device was used to collect air samples. The collected viruses were tested for activity by measuring their ability to induce hemagglutination with chicken red blood cells and to propagate in chicken embryos after direct inoculation, the latter being detected by reverse-transcription PCR and HA test. The results showed that the air samples from the normal centrifugal group and the negative-control group were negative, while all other groups were positive for H5N1.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that there are numerous sources of aerosols in laboratory operations involving H5N1. Thus, laboratory personnel should be aware of the exposure risk that accompanies routine procedures involved in H5N1 processing and take proactive measures to prevent accidental infection and decrease the risk of virus aerosol leakage beyond the laboratory.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Li et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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