Source: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/07/19/1608853113
The enigma of the apparent disappearance of Eurasian highly pathogenic H5 clade 2.3.4.4 influenza A viruses in North American waterfowl
Scott Kraussa, David E. Stallknechtb, Richard D. Slemonsc, Andrew S. Bowmanc, Rebecca L. Poulsonb, Jacqueline M. Noltingc, James P. Knowlesa, and Robert G. Webstera,1
Contributed by Robert G. Webster, June 7, 2016 (sent for review February 24, 2016; reviewed by Ruben Donis, Thijs Kuiken, and David E. Swayne)
Significance
The role of wild aquatic birds in perpetuating highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is unresolved. We examined whether the subtype H5 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIV that devastated the US poultry industry in 2015 is perpetuated in wild aquatic birds. Virologic surveillance in 2014/15 and over the previous 43 y failed to detect HPAIVs in wild aquatic birds before or after the poultry outbreak, supporting the premise that there are unresolved mechanisms preventing wild aquatic birds from perpetuating HPAIVs. The significance of these findings is that timely and efficient strategies used to successfully prevent and eradicate HPAIVs infecting poultry, without the use of vaccines, appear to complement natural biological mechanisms in disrupting the perpetuation and possible spread of HPAIVs by wild aquatic birds...
The enigma of the apparent disappearance of Eurasian highly pathogenic H5 clade 2.3.4.4 influenza A viruses in North American waterfowl
Scott Kraussa, David E. Stallknechtb, Richard D. Slemonsc, Andrew S. Bowmanc, Rebecca L. Poulsonb, Jacqueline M. Noltingc, James P. Knowlesa, and Robert G. Webstera,1
Contributed by Robert G. Webster, June 7, 2016 (sent for review February 24, 2016; reviewed by Ruben Donis, Thijs Kuiken, and David E. Swayne)
Significance
The role of wild aquatic birds in perpetuating highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) is unresolved. We examined whether the subtype H5 clade 2.3.4.4 HPAIV that devastated the US poultry industry in 2015 is perpetuated in wild aquatic birds. Virologic surveillance in 2014/15 and over the previous 43 y failed to detect HPAIVs in wild aquatic birds before or after the poultry outbreak, supporting the premise that there are unresolved mechanisms preventing wild aquatic birds from perpetuating HPAIVs. The significance of these findings is that timely and efficient strategies used to successfully prevent and eradicate HPAIVs infecting poultry, without the use of vaccines, appear to complement natural biological mechanisms in disrupting the perpetuation and possible spread of HPAIVs by wild aquatic birds...