Multiyear surveillance for avian influenza virus in waterfowl from wintering grounds, Texas coast, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Aug;16(8):1224-30. doi: 10.3201/eid1608.091864.

Abstract

We studied the prevalence of influenza A virus in wintering waterfowl from the Central Flyway on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Of 5,363 hunter-harvested migratory and resident waterfowl and wetland-associated game birds sampled during 3 consecutive hunting seasons (September-January 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09), real-time reverse transcription-PCR detected influenza A matrix sequences in 8.5% of samples, H5 in 0.7%, and H7 in 0.6%. Virus isolation yielded 134 influenza A viruses, including N1-N9, H1-H7, H10, and H11 subtypes. Low-pathogenicity H7 subtype was isolated during January, September, and November 2007 and January 2008; low-pathogenicity H5 subtype was isolated during November and December 2007.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anseriformes*
  • Bird Diseases / epidemiology
  • Bird Diseases / virology*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary*
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Female
  • Influenza A virus / genetics
  • Influenza A virus / isolation & purification*
  • Influenza in Birds / epidemiology
  • Influenza in Birds / virology*
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Seasons
  • Serotyping / veterinary
  • Texas / epidemiology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral