de Seixas MMM, de Araújo J, Krauss S, Fabrizio T,. H6N8 avian influenza virus in Antarctic seabirds demonstrates connectivity between South America and Antarctica. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2022 Oct 10
Wild aquatic birds are the natural reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). It is estimated that 100 million seabirds live in the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands, regularly encountering migratory birds that use the islands to nest. Between 2010 and 2013, we collected samples from 865 seabirds in Elephant, King George and Livingston islands, around Antarctica Peninsula: Chinstrap penguin (n = 143); Gentoo penguin (n = 208); Adelie penguin (n = 46); Brown skua (n = 90); cape petrel (n = 115); and southern giant petrel (n = 263). Serum (n = 673) samples were analyzed by competitive ELISA and swabs (n = 614) were tested by one step real-time RT-PCR for avian influenza virus (AIV). Sera from 30 chinstrap penguins, 76 Brown skuas and a single Adelie penguin were seropositive for AIV. Thirteen swab samples were AIV positive by RT-PCR, and complete genome sequences of H6N8 AIVs isolated from Brown skua and chinstrap penguin in 2011 were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all gene segments of the H6N8 viruses were closely related to Argentinian and Chilean AIVs. The prevalence with which we identified evidence for AIVs infection in various Antarctic seabirds suggest viral circulation in Antarctic avifauna and interspecies viral transmission in the sub-Antarctic region.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Nucleic acid detection and genomic sequence analysis of one H5N1 avian influenza virus from wide birds around Qinghai Lake 2 days ago
- An aggregated dataset of serial morbidity and titer measurements from influenza A virus-infected ferrets 2 days ago
- Structures of H5N1 influenza polymerase with ANP32B reveal mechanisms of genome replication and host adaptation 5 days ago
- Risk assessment of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus from mink 5 days ago
- Detection of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in New York City 5 days ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]