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Spatial, Temporal, and Species Variation in Prevalence of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Migratory Birds
Vincent J. Munster1, Chantal Baas1, Pascal Lexmond1, Jonas Waldenström2, Anders Wallensten3,4, Thord Fransson5, Guus F. Rimmelzwaan1, Walter E. P. Beyer1, Martin Schutten1, Björn Olsen2,6, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus1, Ron A. M. Fouchier1*
1 Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2 Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden, 3 Smedby Health Center, Kalmar County Council, Kalmar, Sweden, 4 Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, 5 Bird Ringing Center, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, 6 Department of Clinical Science, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Although extensive data exist on avian influenza in wild birds in North America, limited information is available from elsewhere, including Europe. Here, molecular diagnostic tools were employed for high-throughput surveillance of migratory birds, as an alternative to classical labor-intensive methods of virus isolation in eggs. This study included 36,809 samples from 323 bird species belonging to 18 orders, of which only 25 species of three orders were positive for influenza A virus. Information on species, locations, and timing is provided for all samples tested. Seven previously unknown host species for avian influenza virus were identified: barnacle goose, bean goose, brent goose, pink-footed goose, bewick's swan, common gull, and guillemot. Dabbling ducks were more frequently infected than other ducks and Anseriformes; this distinction was probably related to bird behavior rather than population sizes. Waders did not appear to play a role in the epidemiology of avian influenza in Europe, in contrast to the Americas. The high virus prevalence in ducks in Europe in spring as compared with North America could explain the differences in virus–host ecology between these continents. Most influenza A virus subtypes were detected in ducks, but H13 and H16 subtypes were detected primarily in gulls. Viruses of subtype H6 were more promiscuous in host range than other subtypes. Temporal and spatial variation in influenza virus prevalence in wild birds was observed, with influenza A virus prevalence varying by sampling location; this is probably related to migration patterns from northeast to southwest and a higher prevalence farther north along the flyways. We discuss the ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza A virus in wild birds in relation to host ecology and compare our results with published studies. These data are useful for designing new surveillance programs and are particularly relevant due to increased interest in avian influenza in wild birds.
Funding. This work was sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, The Netherlands Organisation for scientific research (NWO-WOTRO), Framework 5 grant QLRT-2001–01034 from the European Union, the Health Research Council of Southeast Sweden (F2004–225), the Kronan Foundation, the Medical Faculty of Umeå University, and the Swedish Research Council (2004–5489).
Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Editor: Yoshihiro Kawaoka, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America
Citation: Munster VJ, Baas C, Lexmond P, Waldenström J, Wallensten A, et al. (2007) Spatial, Temporal, and Species Variation in Prevalence of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Migratory Birds. PLoS Pathog 3(5): e61 doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0030061
Received: October 23, 2006; Accepted: March 14, 2007; Published: May 11, 2007
Copyright: © 2007 Munster et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abbreviations: HA, hemagglutinin; HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza; NA, neuraminidase
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.fouchier _at_ erasmusmc.nl
Full article available here: http://pathogens.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.ppat.0030061
also here on site: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=80280#post80280
Vincent J. Munster1, Chantal Baas1, Pascal Lexmond1, Jonas Waldenström2, Anders Wallensten3,4, Thord Fransson5, Guus F. Rimmelzwaan1, Walter E. P. Beyer1, Martin Schutten1, Björn Olsen2,6, Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus1, Ron A. M. Fouchier1*
1 Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2 Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden, 3 Smedby Health Center, Kalmar County Council, Kalmar, Sweden, 4 Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, 5 Bird Ringing Center, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, 6 Department of Clinical Science, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
Although extensive data exist on avian influenza in wild birds in North America, limited information is available from elsewhere, including Europe. Here, molecular diagnostic tools were employed for high-throughput surveillance of migratory birds, as an alternative to classical labor-intensive methods of virus isolation in eggs. This study included 36,809 samples from 323 bird species belonging to 18 orders, of which only 25 species of three orders were positive for influenza A virus. Information on species, locations, and timing is provided for all samples tested. Seven previously unknown host species for avian influenza virus were identified: barnacle goose, bean goose, brent goose, pink-footed goose, bewick's swan, common gull, and guillemot. Dabbling ducks were more frequently infected than other ducks and Anseriformes; this distinction was probably related to bird behavior rather than population sizes. Waders did not appear to play a role in the epidemiology of avian influenza in Europe, in contrast to the Americas. The high virus prevalence in ducks in Europe in spring as compared with North America could explain the differences in virus–host ecology between these continents. Most influenza A virus subtypes were detected in ducks, but H13 and H16 subtypes were detected primarily in gulls. Viruses of subtype H6 were more promiscuous in host range than other subtypes. Temporal and spatial variation in influenza virus prevalence in wild birds was observed, with influenza A virus prevalence varying by sampling location; this is probably related to migration patterns from northeast to southwest and a higher prevalence farther north along the flyways. We discuss the ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza A virus in wild birds in relation to host ecology and compare our results with published studies. These data are useful for designing new surveillance programs and are particularly relevant due to increased interest in avian influenza in wild birds.
Funding. This work was sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, The Netherlands Organisation for scientific research (NWO-WOTRO), Framework 5 grant QLRT-2001–01034 from the European Union, the Health Research Council of Southeast Sweden (F2004–225), the Kronan Foundation, the Medical Faculty of Umeå University, and the Swedish Research Council (2004–5489).
Competing interests. The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Editor: Yoshihiro Kawaoka, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America
Citation: Munster VJ, Baas C, Lexmond P, Waldenström J, Wallensten A, et al. (2007) Spatial, Temporal, and Species Variation in Prevalence of Influenza A Viruses in Wild Migratory Birds. PLoS Pathog 3(5): e61 doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.0030061
Received: October 23, 2006; Accepted: March 14, 2007; Published: May 11, 2007
Copyright: © 2007 Munster et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abbreviations: HA, hemagglutinin; HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza; NA, neuraminidase
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.fouchier _at_ erasmusmc.nl
Full article available here: http://pathogens.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.ppat.0030061
also here on site: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=80280#post80280
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