Interspecies Transmission Of Avian Influenza Viruses Research Articles

Turkeys possess diverse Siaα2-3Gal glycans that facilitate their dual susceptibility to avian influenza viruses isolated from ducks and chickens

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulating in wild ducks are rarely transmitted directly to chickens. Previous studies demonstrated that chickens possess fucosylated and/or sulfated α2,3 sialosides on their tracheal epithelia, whereas intestinal epithelia of ducks express canonical α2,3 sialosides. Turkeys, the third major poultry species in the world, are known to show broad susceptibility to various avian influenza viruses. To elucidate the molecular basis of the broad susceptibility of turkeys to duck and chicken AIVs, we characterized various receptors for AIVs on their tissues. The experimental infection of turkeys demonstrated their dual susceptibility to duck and chicken AIVs. Further, comprehensive histochemical analyses using lectins, anti-glycan antibodies, and recombinant hemagglutinins, combined with glycosidase digestions, identified the presence of fucosylated and/or sulfated in addition to canonical α2,3 sialosides on their respiratory epithelia. The receptor distributions in turkeys were consistent with their dual susceptibility to duck and chicken AIVs. Also, our findings suggested the potential roles of turkeys in interspecies transmission of AIVs from ducks to chickens.

Pathogenic assessment of avian influenza viruses in migratory birds

ABSTRACT Several subtypes of avian influenza (AI) viruses have caused human infections in recent years; however, there is a severe knowledge gap regarding the capacity of wild bird viruses to infect mammals. To assess the risk of mammalian infection by AI viruses from their natural reservoirs, a panel of isolates from 34 wild birds was examined in animal models. All selected AI virus subtypes were found to predominantly possess Eurasian lineage, although reassortment with North American lineage AI viruses was also noted in some isolates. When used to infect chickens, 20 AI isolates could be recovered from oropharyngeal swabs at 5 days post-infection (dpi) without causing significant morbidity. Similarly, mild to no observable disease was observed in mice infected with these viruses although the majority replicated efficiently in murine lungs. As expected, wild bird AI isolates were found to recognize avian-like receptors, while a few strains also exhibited detectable human-like receptor binding. Selected strains were further tested in ferrets, and 15 out of 20 were found to shed the virus in the upper respiratory tract until 5 dpi. Overall, we demonstrate that a diversity of low-pathogenic AI viruses carried by wild migratory birds have the capacity to infect land-based poultry and mammalian hosts while causing minimal signs of clinical disease. This study reiterates that there is a significant capacity for interspecies transmission of AI viruses harboured by wild aquatic birds. Thus, these viruses pose a significant threat to human health underscoring the need for continued surveillance.

Transmission of Avian Influenza Virus by Humpback Whale and Its Stranding along the Atlantic Coast with CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions

Humpback whales are migratory, spending summers in cooler, high-latitude waters and mating and calving in tropical and subtropical waters in 14 identified district population segments. It may be possible that the coastal areas are infected with low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) during the release of infected humpback whale feces. Therefore, humpback whales can be an effective reservoir of the avian influenza virus (AIV) from the Poles to the Continents to spread AIV to coastal animals. Strong ultraviolet (UV) exposure amidst CO2 emission increase and minimal sunspot number might cause mutations of aquatic virus and humpback whale in the Antarctic and the Arctic. LPAI or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is expressed in the Continents under appropriate environmental factors. Since penguins are birds while humpback whales are marine mammals, the humpback whales infected by the mutant virus might cause interspecies transmission to a new host with evolutionary changes. The migration pattern is seasonally similar between migratory bird and humpback whale except: 1) different species of bird versus whale, 2) different landing area of land versus coast, 3) similar infection means of bird feces versus humpback whale feces. The contribution of AIV transmission by whales was several times larger than that by migratory birds. Therefore, the routes of humpback whales should be considered to prevent AIV outbreaks in addition to the flyways of migratory birds. Humpback whale stranding (y) along the Atlantic Coast of the USA was correlated with CO2 emissions (x) to have y = 0.3515x + 18.595 (R2 = 0.4069) during 1992-2016 while y = 0.0652x + 4.5847, (R2 = 0.6128) during 2016-2018. AIV outbreak in 2010 (y) along the Atlantic Coast was also correlated with humpback whale stranding (2016-2018) (x) as y = 0.1387x + 6.8184 (R2 = 0.3966). Since AIV outbreak was linearly (R2 = 0.9967) correlated with the minimum sunspot number, it was postulated that the unusual mortality events of humpback whale stranding might be caused by an infected mutant virus in the Arctic. Consequently, the humpback whales were stranded along major CO2 producing Atlantic Coast States toward the winter habitat of the West Indies during the CO2 emissions and the minimal sunspot number with strong UV radiation. The stranded dead whales should be burned as soon as possible to prevent further deadly viral interspecies transmission of AIV by the coastal animals. Since CO2 emissions were increased in 2017 and the sunspot number was minimal at the end of 2018, serious numbers of whales are expected to be stranded at the Gulf of Maine, States of North Carolina, New York, and Virginia from November 2018 till April 2019. To save humpback whales from the unusual mortality event along the Atlantic Coast, the reduction of CO2 emissions is suggested by replacement of fossil fuels combustion plants with nuclear power plants along the Atlantic Coast of the USA.

Molecular Markers for Interspecies Transmission of Avian Influenza Viruses in Mammalian Hosts.

In the last decade, a wide range of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have infected various mammalian hosts and continuously threaten both human and animal health. It is a result of overcoming the inter-species barrier which is mostly associated with gene reassortment and accumulation of mutations in their gene segments. Several recent studies have shed insights into the phenotypic and genetic changes that are involved in the interspecies transmission of AIVs. These studies have a major focus on transmission from avian to mammalian species due to the high zoonotic potential of the viruses. As more mammalian species have been infected with these viruses, there is higher risk of genetic evolution of these viruses that may lead to the next human pandemic which represents and raises public health concern. Thus, understanding the mechanism of interspecies transmission and molecular determinants through which the emerging AIVs can acquire the ability to transmit to humans and other mammals is an important key in evaluating the potential risk caused by AIVs among humans. Here, we summarize previous and recent studies on molecular markers that are specifically involved in the transmission of avian-derived influenza viruses to various mammalian hosts including humans, pigs, horses, dogs, and marine mammals.

Model to Track Wild Birds for Avian Influenza by Means of Population Dynamics and Surveillance Information

Design, sampling and data interpretation constitute an important challenge for wildlife surveillance of avian influenza viruses (AIV). The aim of this study was to construct a model to improve and enhance identification in both different periods and locations of avian species likely at high risk of contact with AIV in a specific wetland. This study presents an individual-based stochastic model for the Ebre Delta as an example of this appliance. Based on the Monte-Carlo method, the model simulates the dynamics of the spread of AIV among wild birds in a natural park following introduction of an infected bird. Data on wild bird species population, apparent AIV prevalence recorded in wild birds during the period of study, and ecological information on factors such as behaviour, contact rates or patterns of movements of waterfowl were incorporated as inputs of the model. From these inputs, the model predicted those species that would introduce most of AIV in different periods and those species and areas that would be at high risk as a consequence of the spread of these AIV incursions. This method can serve as a complementary tool to previous studies to optimize the allocation of the limited AI surveillance resources in a local complex ecosystem. However, this study indicates that in order to predict the evolution of the spread of AIV at the local scale, there is a need for further research on the identification of host factors involved in the interspecies transmission of AIV.