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Avian Dis. 2018 Jul 20;63(sp1):120-125. doi: 10.1637/11848-041718-Reg.1.
Avian Influenza Prevalence and Viral Shedding Routes in Minnesota Ring-Billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis).
Froberg T1, Cuthbert F1, Jennelle CS2, Cardona C3, Culhane M3,4.
Author information
Abstract
in English, Spanish
Birds within the orders Charadriiformes (shorebirds, gulls) and Anseriformes (waterfowl) are reservoir hosts for avian influenza (AI) viruses, but their role in the transmission dynamics of AI viruses is unclear. To date, waterfowl have been the predominant focal species for most surveillance and epidemiological studies, yet gulls, in particular, have been shown to harbor reassortant AI viruses of both North American and Eurasian lineages and are underrepresented in North American surveillance efforts. To address this gap in surveillance, 1346 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) were sampled during spring and fall migrations and at three breeding sites in 2017 across Minnesota. Results indicate noticeable age-cohort dynamics in AI virus prevalence within ring-billed gulls in Minnesota. Immunologically na?ve juveniles represented the cohort with the highest prevalence rate (57.8%). Regardless of age, more gulls had AI virus detected in oropharyngeal (OP) than in cloacal (CL) swabs. The high AI virus prevalence within ring-billed gulls, particularly in immunologically na?ve birds, warrants further targeted surveillance efforts of ring-billed gulls and other closely related species.
KEYWORDS:
Charadriiformes; Larus delawarensis; Minnesota; avian influenza virus; prevalence; rRT-PCR; ring-billed gull; shedding; surveillance
PMID: 31131567 DOI: 10.1637/11848-041718-Reg.1
Avian Influenza Prevalence and Viral Shedding Routes in Minnesota Ring-Billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis).
Froberg T1, Cuthbert F1, Jennelle CS2, Cardona C3, Culhane M3,4.
Author information
Abstract
in English, Spanish
Birds within the orders Charadriiformes (shorebirds, gulls) and Anseriformes (waterfowl) are reservoir hosts for avian influenza (AI) viruses, but their role in the transmission dynamics of AI viruses is unclear. To date, waterfowl have been the predominant focal species for most surveillance and epidemiological studies, yet gulls, in particular, have been shown to harbor reassortant AI viruses of both North American and Eurasian lineages and are underrepresented in North American surveillance efforts. To address this gap in surveillance, 1346 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) were sampled during spring and fall migrations and at three breeding sites in 2017 across Minnesota. Results indicate noticeable age-cohort dynamics in AI virus prevalence within ring-billed gulls in Minnesota. Immunologically na?ve juveniles represented the cohort with the highest prevalence rate (57.8%). Regardless of age, more gulls had AI virus detected in oropharyngeal (OP) than in cloacal (CL) swabs. The high AI virus prevalence within ring-billed gulls, particularly in immunologically na?ve birds, warrants further targeted surveillance efforts of ring-billed gulls and other closely related species.
KEYWORDS:
Charadriiformes; Larus delawarensis; Minnesota; avian influenza virus; prevalence; rRT-PCR; ring-billed gull; shedding; surveillance
PMID: 31131567 DOI: 10.1637/11848-041718-Reg.1