Prevalence of avian influenza viruses,Borrelia garinii,Mycobacterium avium, andMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisin waterfowl and terrestrial birds in Slovakia, 2006

Abstract

International audienceThe prevalence of Borrelia (B.), Mycobacteria (M.) and avian influenza virus (AIV) infections, together with the distribution of different AIV subtypes, was studied in migratory waterfowl and terrestrial birds caught in three localities in Slovakia during 2006. Samples obtained from waterfowl captured in the Senianske Ponds area of Eastern Slovakia showed the highest diversity of AIV isolates. A total of 13 different subtypes were detected in 19 samples from this location (H1N2, H2N2, H3N2, H6N6, H7N6, H9N2, H9N5, H9N6, H10N5, H10N6, H12N6, H13N6, and H16N6). H3N5 virus was detected in 50% of passerines testing positive for AIV in the Parizske Wetlands, with H7N2, H9N2, H9N5, H12N1, and H13N2 infections also recorded at this locality. H9N5 virus predominated in passerines captured at Trnava Ponds, with isolates H1N6, H6N5, H7N2, H7N6, H10N3, H10N6 also detected at this location. There were five cases where different AIV infections were detected in oropharyngeal and cloacal samples originating from the same bird (H13N6 and H1N2; H10N5 and H12N6; H9N5 and H6N5; H10N6 and H7N6; H9N2 and H3N5 in the oropharynx and cloaca, respectively). Between 21 and 52% of captured birds tested positive for B. burgdorferi sensu lato, with the percentage infected depending on bird species and locality. Samples were characterized by PCR-RFLP analysis and identified as B. garinii species (either B/B' or R/R' pattern). Mycobacteria were detected in 42% and 26 % of waders captured at Senianske Ponds and marsh-dwelling passerines captured in the Parizske Wetlands, respectively. Interestingly, forest-dwelling passerine species caught in the Trnava Ponds region tested negative for Mycobacteria

Prevalence of avian influenza viruses, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium avium, subsp. paratuberculosis in marsh-dwelling passerines in Slovakia, 2008

“…Prevalence of AIV was comparable with that seen in this locality two years earlier during the summer of 2006 (Gronesova et al 2008a), with most of the same species of birds captured and tested. However, the diversity of detected subtypes this year was higher.…”

“…However, the diversity of detected subtypes this year was higher. The H3 subtype was dominant in this locality two years ago (Gronesova et al 2008a) while subtypes H12, H6, and H8 were most abundant in 2008.…”

“…A decade-long study of nearly 12,000 wild birds tested in the Netherlands revealed that 0.7% of birds had tuberculosis (Smit et al 1987). Our previous studies have shown a relatively high prevalence of M. avium and MAP among migratory birds, especially waterfowl (Gronesova et al 2008a captured birds did not show any signs of disease, corresponding with the fact that birds exhibit a relatively high resistance to tuberculosis. It is possible that individuals may act as hosts for M. avium subsp.…”

“…Moreover, little is know about the replication and spread of AIV in wild birds. We observed that the most objective results are obtained when oropharyngeal and cloacal samples are tested simultaneously (Gronesova et al 2007(Gronesova et al , 2008aMižáková et al 2008). In June/July 2008, a total of 120 birds were captured in the same locality, all of which belonged to the order Passeriformes (Table 2).…”

“…(Humberd et al 2006;van der Goot et al 2007). Birds living and nesting close together are likely to be exposed to many subtypes, and harbouring one AIV infection does not seem to preclude infection with another (Gronesova et al 2007(Gronesova et al , 2008aGoyal et al 2010). Co-infected birds (one subtype present in the oropharynx and another in the cloaca) were obviously infected with the two subtypes of AIV at different times.…”