Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background Avian influenza (AI) viruses infect numerous avian species, and low pathogenicity (LP) AI viruses of the H7 subtype are typically reported to produce mild or subclinical infections in both wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry. However relatively little work has been done to compare LPAI viruses from different avian species for their ability to cause disease in domestic poultry under the same conditions. In this study twelve H7 LPAI virus isolates from North America were each evaluated for their comparative pathogenesis in chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Results All 12 isolates were able to infect all three species at a dose of 10 6 50% egg infectious doses based on seroconversion, although not all animals seroconverted with each isolate-species combination. The severity of disease varied among isolate and species combinations, but there was a consistent trend for clinical disease to be most severe in turkeys where all 12 isolates induced disease, and mortality was observed in turkeys exposed to 9 of the 12 viruses. Turkeys also shed virus by the oral and cloacal routes at significantly higher titers than either ducks or chickens at numerous time points. Only 3 isolates induced observable clinical disease in ducks and only 6 isolates induced disease in chickens, which was generally very mild and did not result in mortality. Full genome sequence was completed for all 12 isolates and some isolates did have features consistent with adaptation to poultry (e.g. NA stalk deletions), however none of these features correlated with disease severity. Conclusions The data suggests that turkeys may be more susceptible to clinical disease from the H7 LPAI viruses included in this study than either chickens or ducks. However the severity of disease and degree of virus shed was not clearly correlated with any isolate or group of isolates, but relied on specific species and isolate combinations.

Background Wild waterfowl, including ducks, represent the classic reservoir for low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses and play a major role in the worldwide dissemination of AIV. AIVs belonging to the hemagglutinin (H) 7 subtype are of epidemiological and economic importance due to their potential to mutate into a highly pathogenic form of the virus. Thus far, however, relatively little work has been conducted on elucidating the host-pathogen interactions of ducks and H7 LPAIVs. In the current study, three H7 LPAIVs isolated from either chicken, duck, or turkey avian species were evaluated for their comparative effect on the transcriptional innate immune response of ducks. Results Three H7 LPAIV isolates, chicken-origin (A/chicken/Maryland/MinhMa/2004), duck-origin (A/pintail/Minnesota/423/1999), and turkey-origin (A/turkey/Virginia/SEP-67/2002) were used to infect Pekin ducks. At 3 days post-infection, RNA from spleen tissue was used for transcriptional analysis using the Avian Innate Immune Microarray (AIIM) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Microarray analysis revealed that a core set of 61 genes was differentially regulated in response to all three LPAIVs. Furthermore, we observed 101, 135, and 628 differentially expressed genes unique to infection with the chicken-, duck-, or turkey-origin LPAIV isolates, respectively. qRT-PCR results revealed significant (p<0.05) induction of IL-1β, IL-2, and IFNγ transcription, with the greatest induction observed upon infection with the chicken-origin isolate. Several key innate immune pathways were activated in response to LPAIV infection including the toll-like receptor and RIG-I-like receptor pathways. Conclusions Pekin ducks elicit a unique innate immune response to different species-of-origin H7 LPAIV isolates. However, twelve identifiable genes and their associated cell signaling pathways (RIG-I, NOD, TLR) are differentially expressed regardless of isolate origin. This core set of genes are critical to the duck immune response to AI. These data provide insight into the potential mechanisms employed by ducks to tolerate AI viral infection.

Wild waterfowl and shorebirds in the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia (Delmarva) Peninsula region within the Atlantic Flyway were sampled as part of the Early Detection of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) in Wild Migratory Birds program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state wildlife agencies submitted 7858 samples for AI virus (AIV) testing by real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) to the University of Delaware Poultry Health System from April 2007 to March 2011. Virus isolation attempts were performed on samples with matrix gene cycle threshold (Ct) values ≤33.9. Using rRT-PCR, AIV was detected in 14% (1091/7857) of the samples. In species with sample sizes >100, American black duck (Anas rubripes; 28%), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres; 27%), American green-winged teal (Anas crecca; 21%), semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla; 27%), greater snow goose (Chen caerulescens atlanticus; 12%), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos; 10%), and northern pintail (Anas acuta; 14%) showed the highest rates of AIV detection. Forty-two AIVs were recovered from eight species: American black duck, mallard, ruddy turnstone, American green-winged teal, greater snow goose, Canada goose (Branta canadensis), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), and mallard × American black duck (Anas platyrhynchos × Anas rubripes). Recovered H5 (n = 2) and H7 (n = 2) viruses were found to be low pathogenicity by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory. Additional AIVs represented a diversity of subtype combinations: H1–H4, H6, and H10 and H11 and N subtypes N1–N9 and N6–N9. The rate of AIV recovery from swabbings was inversely related to Ct value, ranging from 50% for Ct values of 16.0–18.9 to 5.1% for Ct values of 31–33.9.

A limited outbreak of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis (NIB) occurred in three Delmarva (DMV) commercial broiler chicken flocks in 2011. Isolates of NIB virus (NIBV)—DMV/1639/11, DMV/3432/11, and DMV/3902/11—were characterized by sequence analysis of the N-terminal subunit (S1) of the spike (S) gene. Findings indicated that the isolates were identical to each other and to PA/9579A/10, a 2010 isolate from poultry in Pennsylvania. The 2010 and 2011 isolates appear to have originated from a 1997–2000 NIB outbreak in Pennsylvania. DMV/1639/11 and PA/9579A/10 were determined to be nephropathogenic in susceptible chickens, yielding virus reisolations from kidney and inducing characteristic interstitial nephritis microscopic lesions. In a controlled laboratory study, 40% of chickens vaccinated with a combination live vaccine containing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains Massachusetts (Mass) + Connecticut (Conn) were positive on virus isolation attempts after challenge with DMV/1639/11, compared with only 13% of Mass + Arkansas (Ark) vaccinates. Both combination vaccines gave partial protection against the development of DMV/1639/11-induced renal lesions. Although numerically fewer chickens vaccinated with Mass + Conn had interstitial nephritis compared with those vaccinated with Mass + Ark, neither vaccine combination offered greater protection (P < 0.05) than observed in unvaccinated chickens challenged with DMV/1639/11. Mass + Ark vaccinations, applied under commercial conditions in the hatchery (spray) and on-farm (spray), did not protect the trachea or kidney from DMV/1639/11 challenge. Serologic testing of broiler flocks found <3% (2 of 69) tested to possess specific antibodies to DMV/1639/11, indicating the virus had not become established in the region. Caracterización del virus nefropatogénico de la bronquitis infecciosa DMV/1639/11 aislado de pollos de engorde en el área de Delmarva en el año 2011. Se presentó un brote limitado de bronquitis infecciosa nefropatogénica (NIB) en tres parvadas comerciales de pollos de engorde en el año 2011 en el área de Delmarva. Se caracterizaron los aislamientos de virus nefropatogénicos de bronquitis infecciosa DMV/1639/11, DMV/3432/11 y DMV/3902/11 se caracterizaron mediante el análisis de la secuencia del gene de la subunidad S1 de la espícula (S). Los resultados indicaron que los aislamientos eran idénticos entre sí y con el aislamiento PA/9579A/10, que es un aislamiento de aves comerciales en Pennsylvania del año 2010. Las cepas de los años 2010 y 2011 parecen haberse originado a partir de un brote de bronquitis infecciosa nefropatogénica que se presentó entre los años 1997 al 2000 en Pennsylvania. Se determinó que los aislamientos DMV/1639/11 y PA/9579A/10 eran nefropatogénicos en pollos susceptibles, que eran reaislados del riñón e inducían las lesiones de nefritis intersticial microscópica característica. En un estudio controlado de laboratorio, el 40% de los pollos vacunados con una vacuna viva que contenía la combinación cepas Massachussets (Mass) y Connecticut (Conn) fueron positivos a los intentos de aislamiento del virus después del desafío con el virus DMV/1639/11, en comparación con sólo el 13% de los pollos vacunados con la combinación Massachussets y Arkansas (Ark). Ambas combinaciones de vacunas confirieron una protección parcial contra el desarrollo de las lesiones renales inducidas por el virus DMV/1639/11. Aunque un número menor de los pollos vacunados con la combinación Massachussets y Connecticut mostraron nefritis intersticial en comparación con los pollos vacunados con Massachussets y Arkansas, ninguna combinación de vacunas ofreció una mayor protección (P < 0.05) que la observada en los pollos no vacunados y desafiados con el virus DMV/1639/11. Las vacunaciones con la combinación Massachussets y Arkansas, aplicadas en condiciones comerciales en la planta de incubación (aerosol) y en las explotaciones agrícolas (aerosol), no protegieron a la tráquea o a los riñones ante el desafío con el virus DMV/1639/11. Las pruebas serológicas demostraron que menos del 3% de las parvadas (2 de 69) poseían anticuerpos específicos contra el virus DMV/1639/11, lo que indica que el virus no se había establecido en la región.

A limited outbreak of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis (NIB) occurred in three Delmarva (DMV) commercial broiler chicken flocks in 2011. Isolates of NIB virus (NIBV)-DMV/1639/11, DMV/3432/11, and DMV/3902/11-were characterized by sequence analysis of the N-terminal subunit (S1) of the spike (S) gene. Findings indicated that the isolates were identical to each other and to PA/9579A/10, a 2010 isolate from poultry in Pennsylvania. The 2010 and 2011 isolates appear to have originated from a 1997-2000 NIB outbreak in Pennsylvania. DMV/1639/11 and PA/9579A/10 were determined to be nephropathogenic in susceptible chickens, yielding virus reisolations from kidney and inducing characteristic interstitial nephritis microscopic lesions. In a controlled laboratory study, 40% of chickens vaccinated with a combination live vaccine containing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains Massachusetts (Mass) + Connecticut (Conn) were positive on virus isolation attempts after challenge with DMV/1639/11, compared with only 13% of Mass + Arkansas (Ark) vaccinates. Both combination vaccines gave partial protection against the development of DMV/1639/11-induced renal lesions. Although numerically fewer chickens vaccinated with Mass + Conn had interstitial nephritis compared with those vaccinated with Mass + Ark, neither vaccine combination offered greater protection (P < 0.05) than observed in unvaccinated chickens challenged with DMV/1639/11. Mass + Ark vaccinations, applied under commercial conditions in the hatchery (spray) and on-farm (spray), did not protect the trachea or kidney from DMV/1639/11 challenge. Serologic testing of broiler flocks found <3% (2 of 69) tested to possess specific antibodies to DMV/1639/11, indicating the virus had not become established in the region. Caracterizacion del virus nefropatogenico de la bronquitis infecciosa DMV/1639/11 aislado de pollos de engorde en el area de Delmarva en el ano 2011.