Abstract
Avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) have a broad host range, but are most intimately associated with waterfowl (Anseriformes) and, in the case of the H13 and H16 subtypes, gulls (Charadriiformes). Host associations are multifactorial, but a key factor is the ability of the virus to bind host cell receptors and thereby initiate infection. The current study aims at investigating the tissue attachment pattern of a panel of AIVs, comprising H3N2, H6N1, H12N5, and H16N3, to avian trachea and colon tissue samples obtained from host species of different orders. Virus attachment was not restricted to the bird species or order from which the virus was isolated. Instead, extensive virus attachment was observed to several distantly related avian species. In general, more virus attachment and receptor expression were observed in trachea than in colon samples. Additionally, a human seasonal H3N2 virus was studied. Unlike the studied AIVs, this virus mainly attached to tracheae from Charadriiformes and a very limited set of avian cola. In conclusion, the reported results highlight the importance of AIV attachment to trachea in many avian species. Finally, the importance of chickens and mallards in AIVs dynamics was illustrated by the abundant AIV attachment observed.
Highlights
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are pathogens of global concern in both human and veterinary medicine (Webster et al, 1992; Stöhr, 2002; Olsen et al, 2006; Wiethoelter et al, 2015)
Wild birds are well-described hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) and longitudinal surveillance studies have demonstrated a plethora of low pathogenic AIVs (LPAIVs) circulating in wild birds, in dabbling ducks and other waterfowl (Krauss et al, 2004; Munster et al, 2007; Wallensten et al, 2007; Wille et al, 2011; Bahl et al, 2013; Huang et al, 2014; Arnal et al, 2015; Caron et al, 2017)
The pattern of virus attachment (PVA) was studied in 26 different bird species of seven different orders by virus histochemistry with four LPAIVs of different origins: mallard H3N2, mallard H6N1, ruddy turnstone H12N5, and black-headed gull H16N3 and one human seasonal IAV, H3N2
Summary
Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are pathogens of global concern in both human and veterinary medicine (Webster et al, 1992; Stöhr, 2002; Olsen et al, 2006; Wiethoelter et al, 2015). Despite a large number of avian species screened in surveillance studies, there are only few species in which high AIV prevalence and subtype diversity is consistently detected (Krauss et al, 2004; Munster et al, 2007; Wallensten et al, 2007; Wille et al, 2011; Bahl et al, 2013; Huang et al, 2014; Arnal et al, 2015; Caron et al, 2017) This observation suggests that avian species differ in their capacity to maintain and transmit AIVs, and that certain species serve as reservoir species and others as spillover hosts with limited further transmission (Van Dijk et al, 2018). Surveillance studies alone cannot assess these questions but need to be complemented by experimental studies evaluating virus susceptibility and transmissibility
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