Avian influenza ecology in north atlantic sea ducks: Not all ducks are created equal

Jeffrey S. Hall; Robin E. Russell; J. Christian Franson; Catherine Soos; Robert J. Dusek; R. Bradford Allen; Sean W. Nashold; Joshua L. TeSlaa; Jon Einar Jonsson; Jennifer R. Ballard; Naomi Jane Harms; Justin D. Brown

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144524

Avian influenza ecology in north atlantic sea ducks: Not all ducks are created equal

Jeffrey S. Hall, Robin E. Russell, J. Christian Franson, Catherine Soos, Robert J. Dusek, R. Bradford Allen, Sean W. Nashold, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Jon Einar Jonsson, Jennifer R. Ballard, Naomi Jane Harms, Justin D. Brown

University of Iceland

University of Iceland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presence of AIV. We found relatively high serological prevalence (61%) in these sea duck populations but low virus prevalence (0.3%). Using these data we estimated that an antibody half-life of 141 weeks (3.2 years) would be required to attain these prevalences. These findings are much different than what is known in freshwater waterfowl and have implications for surveillance efforts, AIV in marine environments, and the roles of sea ducks and other long-lived waterfowl in avian influenza ecology.

Original language	English
Article number	e0144524
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	10
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144524
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the work of H. Grant Gilchrist of Environment Canada and the numerous wildlife biologists and field technicians, particularly those from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and Environment Canada, who collected samples from wild sea duck populations. We are also indebted to the guides and hunters that allowed us to access to their harvested birds.

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title = "Avian influenza ecology in north atlantic sea ducks: Not all ducks are created equal",

abstract = "Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presence of AIV. We found relatively high serological prevalence (61\%) in these sea duck populations but low virus prevalence (0.3\%). Using these data we estimated that an antibody half-life of 141 weeks (3.2 years) would be required to attain these prevalences. These findings are much different than what is known in freshwater waterfowl and have implications for surveillance efforts, AIV in marine environments, and the roles of sea ducks and other long-lived waterfowl in avian influenza ecology.",

author = "Hall, \{Jeffrey S.\} and Russell, \{Robin E.\} and Franson, \{J. Christian\} and Catherine Soos and Dusek, \{Robert J.\} and Allen, \{R. Bradford\} and Nashold, \{Sean W.\} and TeSlaa, \{Joshua L.\} and Jonsson, \{Jon Einar\} and Ballard, \{Jennifer R.\} and Harms, \{Naomi Jane\} and Brown, \{Justin D.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the work of H. Grant Gilchrist of Environment Canada and the numerous wildlife biologists and field technicians, particularly those from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and Environment Canada, who collected samples from wild sea duck populations. We are also indebted to the guides and hunters that allowed us to access to their harvested birds.",

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T2 - Not all ducks are created equal

AU - Hall, Jeffrey S.

AU - Russell, Robin E.

AU - Franson, J. Christian

AU - Soos, Catherine

AU - Dusek, Robert J.

AU - Allen, R. Bradford

AU - Nashold, Sean W.

AU - TeSlaa, Joshua L.

AU - Jonsson, Jon Einar

AU - Ballard, Jennifer R.

AU - Harms, Naomi Jane

AU - Brown, Justin D.

N1 - Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the work of H. Grant Gilchrist of Environment Canada and the numerous wildlife biologists and field technicians, particularly those from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and Environment Canada, who collected samples from wild sea duck populations. We are also indebted to the guides and hunters that allowed us to access to their harvested birds.

PY - 2015/12/1

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N2 - Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presence of AIV. We found relatively high serological prevalence (61%) in these sea duck populations but low virus prevalence (0.3%). Using these data we estimated that an antibody half-life of 141 weeks (3.2 years) would be required to attain these prevalences. These findings are much different than what is known in freshwater waterfowl and have implications for surveillance efforts, AIV in marine environments, and the roles of sea ducks and other long-lived waterfowl in avian influenza ecology.

AB - Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presence of AIV. We found relatively high serological prevalence (61%) in these sea duck populations but low virus prevalence (0.3%). Using these data we estimated that an antibody half-life of 141 weeks (3.2 years) would be required to attain these prevalences. These findings are much different than what is known in freshwater waterfowl and have implications for surveillance efforts, AIV in marine environments, and the roles of sea ducks and other long-lived waterfowl in avian influenza ecology.

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M1 - e0144524

ER -

Avian influenza ecology in north atlantic sea ducks: Not all ducks are created equal

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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