A national study of US bird banders for evidence of avian influenza virus infections

Gray, Gregory C.; Ferguson, Dwight D.; Lowther, Peter E.; Heil, Gary L.; Friary, John A.

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2011.03.011

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Because HPAIV currently has low transmissibility but high case fatality, an outbreak in humans is an event with low probability but high potential for negative impact on human health. Since ornithologists and others who work occupationally or recreationally with migratory birds have substantial exposure to zoonotic reservoirs of HPAIV and other subtypes of avian influenza virus (AIV), this population is at risk for wildlife-to-human AIV transmission 3 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A national study of individuals who handle migratory birds for evidence of avian and swine-origin influenza virus infections

Shafir

Fuller

Smith

et al. 2012

Journal of Clinical Virology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Persons with occupational or recreational exposure to migratory birds may be at risk for infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza and other avian influenza viruses since wild birds are the natural reservoir of influenza A. Additionally, bird handlers may host avian and swine-origin influenza (pH1N1) virus co-infections, which generate reassortant viruses with high pathogenicity in mammals. Objectives We assessed the prevalence of avian and swine influenza viruses in US-based bird handlers and estimated their exposure to different orders of wild birds including waterfowl (Anseriformes), songbirds (Passeriformes), and shorebirds (Charadriiformes). Study Design Cross-sectional serologic survey accompanied by a questionnaire to estimate behavioral risk factors. This is first survey of US-based bird handlers who also work at international sites. Results 401 participants were recruited and tested over the course of three years. One participant with occupational exposure to migratory birds had evidence of past infections with a H5N2 virus antigenically related to A/Nopi/MN/07/462960-02, which is the first case of this influenza subtype in a human host associated with exposure to wild rather than domestic birds. We detected no avian and swine-origin influenza virus co-infections. The exposure of bird handlers to songbirds was four times greater than to shorebirds or waterfowl. Conclusions Though rare, the transmission of avian influenza viruses from migratory birds to US-based bird handlers has potentially significant public health and economic consequences.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A national study of individuals who handle migratory birds for evidence of avian and swine-origin influenza virus infections

Shafir

Fuller

Smith

et al. 2012

Journal of Clinical Virology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During the same period, a newly emergent avian H10N8 virus, also with six H9N2-like internal genes, was reported to cause fatal human infections in China (4). In the meantime, H9N2 viruses continued to cause human infections in China and other countries based on etiological and serological evidence (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). We recently found that avian H9N2 viruses have undergone significant genetic evolution, especially in their internal genes, to form a predominant genotype (G57), which in turn provided the internal genes to multiple new subtypes, including H7N9 and H10N8 viruses (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevailing PA Mutation K356R in Avian Influenza H9N2 Virus Increases Mammalian Replication and Pathogenicity

Zhang

Gao

et al. 2016

J Virol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adaptation of the viral polymerase complex comprising PB1, PB2, and PA is necessary for efficient influenza A virus replication in new host species. We found that PA mutation K356R (PA-K356R) has become predominant since 2014 in avian H9N2 viruses in China as with seasonal human H1N1 viruses. The same mutation is also found in most human isolates of emergent avian H7N9 and H10N8 viruses whose six internal gene segments are derived from the H9N2 virus. We further demonstrated the mammalian adaptive functionality of the PA-K356R mutation. Avian H9N2 virus with the PA-K356R mutation in human A549 cells showed increased nuclear accumulation of PA and increased viral polymerase activity that resulted in elevated levels of viral transcription and virus output. The same mutant virus in mice also enhanced virus replication and caused lethal infection. In addition, combined mutation of PA-K356R and PB2-E627K, a well-known mammalian adaptive marker, in the H9N2 virus showed further cooperative increases in virus production and severity of infection in vitro and in vivo. In summary, PA-K356R behaves as a novel mammalian tropism mutation, which, along with other mutations such as PB2-E627K, might render avian H9N2 viruses adapted for human infection. IMPORTANCE Mutations of the polymerase complex (PB1, PB2, and PA) of influenza A virus are necessary for viral adaptation to new hosts.This study reports a novel and predominant mammalian adaptive mutation, PA-K356R, in avian H9N2 viruses and human isolates of emergent H7N9 and H10N8 viruses. We found that PA-356R in H9N2 viruses causes significant increases in virus replication and severity of infection in human cells and mice and that PA-K356R cooperates with the PB2-E627K mutation, a wellcharacterized human adaptive marker, to exacerbate mammalian infection in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the PA-K356R mutation is a significant adaptation in H9N2 viruses and related H7N9 and H10N8 reassortants toward human infectivity. The emergence of new pandemic influenza A viruses requires overcoming barriers to cross-species transmission from animal reservoirs to human populations. Influenza viruses of the H9N2 subtype and their reassortants circulating in poultry are a potential source of pandemic viruses and hence represent a significant public health threat (1). Since spring 2013, a novel avian H7N9 reassortant with six internal genes of the H9N2 virus had caused three major outbreaks in humans throughout China (2, 3). During the same period, a newly emergent avian H10N8 virus, also with six H9N2-like internal genes, was reported to cause fatal human infections in China (4). In the meantime, H9N2 viruses continued to cause human infections in China and other countries based on etiological and serological evidence (5-12). We recently found that avian H9N2 viruses have undergone significant genetic evolution, especially in their internal genes, to form a predominant genotype (G57), which in turn provided the internal genes to multiple new subtypes, including H7N9 and H10N8 viru...

show abstract

“…Studies of persons who have contact with either poultry or wild birds have shown variable levels of personal protective behaviors such as wearing gloves or eye protection or washing hands when handling birds, depending on whether the contact was occupational or recreational, or the nature of contact (hunting, farming, transporting birds, collecting specimens, etc.) . In addition, frequent lack of running water in rural villages may contribute to decreased washing of hands by rural hunters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing wild bird contact and seropositivity to highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Alaskan residents

Reed

Bruden

Byrd

et al. 2014

Influenza Resp Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundHighly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 viruses have infected poultry and wild birds on three continents with more than 600 reported human cases (59% mortality) since 2003. Wild aquatic birds are the natural reservoir for avian influenza A viruses, and migratory birds have been documented with HPAI H5N1 virus infection. Since 2005, clade 2.2 HPAI H5N1 viruses have spread from Asia to many countries.ObjectivesWe conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiological survey in Anchorage and western Alaska to identify possible behaviors associated with migratory bird exposure and measure seropositivity to HPAI H5N1.MethodsWe enrolled rural subsistence bird hunters and their families, urban sport hunters, wildlife biologists, and a comparison group without bird contact. We interviewed participants regarding their exposures to wild birds and collected blood to perform serologic testing for antibodies against a clade 2.2 HPAI H5N1 virus strain.ResultsHunters and wildlife biologists reported exposures to wild migratory birds that may confer risk of infection with avian influenza A viruses, although none of the 916 participants had evidence of seropositivity to HPAI H5N1.ConclusionsWe characterized wild bird contact among Alaskans and behaviors that may influence risk of infection with avian influenza A viruses. Such knowledge can inform surveillance and risk communication surrounding HPAI H5N1 and other influenza viruses in a population with exposure to wild birds at a crossroads of intercontinental migratory flyways.

show abstract

A national study of US bird banders for evidence of avian influenza virus infections

Cited by 35 publications

References 21 publications

A national study of individuals who handle migratory birds for evidence of avian and swine-origin influenza virus infections

A national study of individuals who handle migratory birds for evidence of avian and swine-origin influenza virus infections

Prevailing PA Mutation K356R in Avian Influenza H9N2 Virus Increases Mammalian Replication and Pathogenicity

Characterizing wild bird contact and seropositivity to highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in Alaskan residents

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About