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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #181469
Title: AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUSES AND PARAMYXOVIRUSES IN WINTERING AND RESIDENT DUCKS IN TEXAS

Author
item HANSON, BRITTA - UGA-SCWDS, ATHENS, GA
item Swayne, David
item SENNE, DENNIS - USDA-APHIS-NVSL, AMES,IA
item LOBPRIES, DAVID - TEXAS PARKS & WLDLFE-TX
item HURST, JUSTIN - TEXAS PARKS & WLDLFE-TX
item STALLKNECHT, DAVID - UGA-SCWDS, ATHENS, GA

Submitted to: Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2005
Publication Date: 10/1/2005
Citation: Hanson, B.A., Swayne, D.E., Senne, D.A., Lobpries, D.S., Hurst, J., Stallknecht, D.E. 2005. Avian Influenza viruses and Paramyxoviruses in wintering and resident ducks in Texas. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 41(3):624-628.

Interpretive Summary: Some wild birds are reservoirs of avian influenza (AI) viruses with most isolations occurring in northern USA during the fall migration period. Samples from intestines of wild ducks were collected during 2001-2002 in Texas and tested for AI and Newcastle disease viruses. The low pathogenicity AI viruses with hemagglutinin (H) subtypes H1, H2, H7 and H8 were isolated as were low virulent ND viruses. This indicates AI and Newcastle disease viruses can be isolated in southern USA during the summer season in wild ducks.

Technical Abstract: Cloacal swabs were collected from teal (Anas crecca, A. cyanoptera, A. discors), mottled duck (A. fulvigula) and northern pintail (A. acuta) in Brazoria County, Texas during February, 2001, mottled ducks during August, 2001 and blue-winged teal (A. discors) during February, 2002. Prevalence of avian influenza virus (AIV) infections during each sampling period were 11%, 0% and 15% respectively. The hemagglutinin (H) subtypes H2 and H7 were detected in both years, while the H8 subtype was detected in 2001 and the H1 subtype was detected in 2002. Avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) was isolated from 13% of mottled ducks sampled in August, 2001 and 30.7% of teal in February, 2002. The season of isolation of both viruses and the majority of the AIV subtypes detected in this study are not typical based on previous reports of these viruses from North American ducks.