Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/11/flu-scan-nov-04-2014
Flu Scan for Nov 04, 2014
H5N8 avian transmission; Low global flu activity
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Influenza, General
Study finds probable H5N8 transmission between wild and domestic ducks
Strains of the H5N8 avian influenza virus may be easily transmitted by wild mallards and cause severe illness in domestic ducks, according to a study published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Researchers at South Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency evaluated the pathogenicity of the Gochang1, Buan2, and Donglim3 strains of H5N8 in wild mallards, wild Baikal teals, and domestic Pekin ducks. Pathogenicity of the H5N8 strains was also compared with H5N1 avian flu strains.
Pathogenicity tests involved H5 hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs, and tissue sampling from dead birds. Neither the H5N8 nor the H5N1 strains caused severe illness or death in wild mallards.
Moderate pathogenicity was reported in domestic ducks exposed to the H5N8 strain, causing a 0 to 20% mortality rate, the study reported. All uninoculated domestic ducks (the "contact" ducks) also tested positive for H5N8 viral titers, suggesting that transmission of H5N8 from wild to domestic breeds occurred during the study.
The study also found that H5N8 viral shedding and replication lasted significantly longer in mallards than in domestic ducks, and that mallards shed more virus when infected with H5N8 compared with H5N1. These findings suggest that wild ducks may be long-distance vectors for H5N8 strains, the authors wrote.
Given the implications for transmission from wild birds, the researchers recommended increased surveillance of H5N8 in domestic ducks.
Nov 3 Emerg Infect Dis study
WHO: Global flu activity low except on some Pacific islands
Global influenza activity is generally low, with the exception of increased influenza-like illness (ILI) reported on several Pacific islands, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its weekly update yesterday.
Flu activity remained low in North America, Africa, and Asia and at inter-seasonal levels in Europe, the agency said. In tropical countries of the Americas, flu detections decreased, with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing most cases of ILI.
In the Southern Hemisphere, flu activity has reached inter-seasonal levels except on the Pacific islands of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Wallis & Futuna.
In its weekly flu virology report, the WHO said that 59% of 1,318 influenza specimens were positive for influenza A, and 41% were positive for influenza B. Of the 420 "A" strains subtyped, 374 (89%) were H3N2 and 46 (11%) were 2009 H1N1.
Nov 3 WHO global flu update
Nov 3 WHO influenza virology report
Flu Scan for Nov 04, 2014
H5N8 avian transmission; Low global flu activity
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); Influenza, General
Study finds probable H5N8 transmission between wild and domestic ducks
Strains of the H5N8 avian influenza virus may be easily transmitted by wild mallards and cause severe illness in domestic ducks, according to a study published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Researchers at South Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency evaluated the pathogenicity of the Gochang1, Buan2, and Donglim3 strains of H5N8 in wild mallards, wild Baikal teals, and domestic Pekin ducks. Pathogenicity of the H5N8 strains was also compared with H5N1 avian flu strains.
Pathogenicity tests involved H5 hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assays, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs, and tissue sampling from dead birds. Neither the H5N8 nor the H5N1 strains caused severe illness or death in wild mallards.
Moderate pathogenicity was reported in domestic ducks exposed to the H5N8 strain, causing a 0 to 20% mortality rate, the study reported. All uninoculated domestic ducks (the "contact" ducks) also tested positive for H5N8 viral titers, suggesting that transmission of H5N8 from wild to domestic breeds occurred during the study.
The study also found that H5N8 viral shedding and replication lasted significantly longer in mallards than in domestic ducks, and that mallards shed more virus when infected with H5N8 compared with H5N1. These findings suggest that wild ducks may be long-distance vectors for H5N8 strains, the authors wrote.
Given the implications for transmission from wild birds, the researchers recommended increased surveillance of H5N8 in domestic ducks.
Nov 3 Emerg Infect Dis study
WHO: Global flu activity low except on some Pacific islands
Global influenza activity is generally low, with the exception of increased influenza-like illness (ILI) reported on several Pacific islands, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its weekly update yesterday.
Flu activity remained low in North America, Africa, and Asia and at inter-seasonal levels in Europe, the agency said. In tropical countries of the Americas, flu detections decreased, with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causing most cases of ILI.
In the Southern Hemisphere, flu activity has reached inter-seasonal levels except on the Pacific islands of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Wallis & Futuna.
In its weekly flu virology report, the WHO said that 59% of 1,318 influenza specimens were positive for influenza A, and 41% were positive for influenza B. Of the 420 "A" strains subtyped, 374 (89%) were H3N2 and 46 (11%) were 2009 H1N1.
Nov 3 WHO global flu update
Nov 3 WHO influenza virology report