Naturally Acquired Antibodies to Influenza A Virus in Fall-Migrating North American Mallards

Stallknecht, David E.; Fojtik, Alinde; Carter, Deborah L.; Crum-Bradley, Jo Anne; Pérez, Daniel R.; Poulson, Rebecca L.

doi:10.3390/vetsci9050214

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

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“…We also found no evidence that AIV antibodies mediated the effects of HPAI infection on movement behavior. Antibody prevalence is relatively high during winter 45 , which could have limited our ability to detect subtle changes in behavior of infected mallards; this protective benefit of prior exposure could differ at other times of year or in groups of immunologically naïve birds (e.g., juveniles), which could alter infection-movement relationships. A combination of experimental, observational, and theoretical studies across more species and seasons is necessary to fully understand how immunology and the environment interact to determine the impacts of influenza infection on wild bird behavior and health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

North American wintering mallards infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza show few signs of altered local or migratory movements

Teitelbaum,

Masto,

Sullivan

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Avian influenza viruses pose a threat to wildlife and livestock health. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds and poultry in North America in late 2021 was the first such outbreak since 2015 and the largest outbreak in North America to date. Despite its prominence and economic impacts, we know relatively little about how HPAI spreads in wild bird populations. In January 2022, we captured 43 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in Tennessee, USA, 11 of which were actively infected with HPAI. These were the first confirmed detections of HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in the Mississippi Flyway. We compared movement patterns of infected and uninfected birds and found no clear differences; infected birds moved just as much during winter, migrated slightly earlier, and migrated similar distances as uninfected birds. Infected mallards also contacted and shared space with uninfected birds while on their wintering grounds, suggesting ongoing transmission of the virus. We found no differences in body condition or survival rates between infected and uninfected birds. Together, these results show that HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b infection was unrelated to body condition or movement behavior in mallards infected at this location during winter; if these results are confirmed in other seasons and as HPAI H5N1 continues to evolve, they suggest that these birds could contribute to the maintenance and dispersal of HPAI in North America. Further research on more species across larger geographic areas and multiple seasons would help clarify potential impacts of HPAI on waterfowl and how this emerging disease spreads at continental scales, across species, and potentially between wildlife and domestic animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%