Experimental pathogenesis of aquatic bird bornavirus 1 in Pekin ducks

Abstract

Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1) is a neurotropic virus that causes persistent infection in the nervous system of wild waterfowl. This study evaluated whether Pekin ducks, the most common waterfowl raised worldwide, are susceptible to ABBV-1 infection and associated disease. Groups of Pekin ducks were inoculated with ABBV-1 through the intracranial (IC; n, 32), intramuscular (IM; n, 30), and choanal (CH; n, 30) routes. Controls (CO; n, 29) received carrier only. At 1, 12, and 21 weeks postinfection (wpi), 7–14 birds were euthanized to assess virus distribution and lesions. Infection rates in the IC and IM groups were over 70%, while only 4 ducks in the CH group became infected. Neurological signs were observed in 8 ducks only, while over 25% of IC and IM birds had encephalitis and/or myelitis. Seroconversion was highest in the IC and IM groups, and mucosal ABBV-1 RNA shedding was most frequent in the IC group (53%). None of the fertile eggs laid during the experiment tested positive for ABBV-1 RNA. This study shows that Pekin ducks are permissive to ABBV-1 infection and partly susceptible to associated disease. While mucosal shedding may be an important route of transmission, congenital infection appears unlikely.

The First Genetic Characterization of the SPRN Gene in Pekin Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

“…Understanding the features underlying susceptibility and resistance to prion diseases could contribute to therapeutic development and disease prevention [ 51 ]. Moreover, ducks play an important role in meat production and the transmission of several infectious diseases [ 52 , 53 ]. Even though no cases of prion disease have been reported in ducks to our knowledge, it is necessary to validate the possibility of developing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in ducks via experimental studies.…”