Abstract
European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) may share with Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) its potential as an intermediate host and reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). To elucidate this question, European quail were experimentally challenged with two highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV) (H7N1/HP and H5N1/HP) and one low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV) (H7N2/LP). Contact animals were also used to assess the viral transmission among birds. Severe neurological signs and mortality rates of 67% (H7N1/HP) and 92% (H5N1/HP) were observed. Although histopathological findings were present in both HPAIV-infected groups, H5N1/HP-quail displayed a broader viral antigen distribution and extent of microscopic lesions. Neither clinical nor pathological involvement was observed in LPAIV-infected quail. Consistent long-term viral shedding and effective transmission to naive quail was demonstrated for the three studied AIV. Drinking water arose as a possible transmission route and feathers as a potential origin of HPAIV dissemination. The present study demonstrates that European quail may play a major role in AI epidemiology, highlighting the need to further understand its putative role as an intermediate host for avian/mammalian reassortant viruses.
Highlights
Avian influenza (AI) represents a major disease problem, for poultry and for other avian species, mammals, and human beings [1]
Some of the quail (17% H7N1/HP-challenged and 58% H5N1/HPchallenged animals) displayed nonspecific clinical signs, consisting of lethargy, anorexia, and ruffled feathers, that progressed to death or severe neurological signs within 24 h
All HPAIVinoculated birds seroconverted from 5 dpi onwards, with GMT steadily increasing until 15 dpi from 4.7 to 7.0 in the case of H7N1/HP-inoculated quail (Table 5). This is the first experiment which demonstrates that European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) can be infected with both highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV) and low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV)
Summary
Avian influenza (AI) represents a major disease problem, for poultry and for other avian species, mammals, and human beings [1]. Susceptibility to AI viruses (AIV) varies deeply among wild bird and poultry species, as well as their possible role as sentinels, intermediate hosts or reservoirs. Gallinaceous poultry are considered to be highly susceptible [3,4], whereas waterfowl have long been recognized as natural reservoirs, they may show variable morbidity depending on the infective viral strain [5,6,7]. Since the first reported case of AI in Japanese quail Japonica) in Italy (1966–1968) [8], influenza viruses of several subtypes have been isolated from quail domestic poultry and human beings. The epidemiological significance observed for the Japanese quail has not yet been demonstrated for the European quail The epidemiological significance observed for the Japanese quail has not yet been demonstrated for the European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix)
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