Surveillance of influenza A virus in migratory waterfowl in northern Europe
Författare
Summary, in English
We conducted large-scale, systematic sampling of influenza type A virus in migratory waterfowl (mostly mallards [Anas platyrhynchos]) at Ottenby Bird Observatory, southeast Sweden. As with previous studies, we found a higher prevalence in fall than spring, and among juveniles compared with adults. However, in contrast to other studies, we found that prevalence in spring was sometimes high (mean 4.0%, highest 9.5%). This finding raises the possibility that ducks are capable of perpetuating influenza A virus of different subtypes and subtype combinations throughout the year and from 1 year to the next. Isolation of the H5 and H7 subtypes was common, which suggests risk for transmission to sensitive domestic animals such as poultry. We argue that wild bird screening can function as a sentinel system, and we give an example of how it could have been used to forecast a remote and deadly outbreak of influenza A in poultry.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2007
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
404-411
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volym
13
Issue
3
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ämne
- Infectious Medicine
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1080-6040