Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194329
Title: AN AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS FROM WATERFOWL IN SOUTH AMERICA CONTAINS GENES FROM NORTH AMERICAN AVIAN AND EQUINE LINEAGES

Author
item Spackman, Erica
item MCCRACKEN, KEVIN - INST OF ARCTIC BIOL, AK
item WINKER, KEVIN - UNIV OF ALASKA MUSEUM-AK
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2006
Publication Date: 3/1/2007
Citation: Spackman, E., Mccracken, K.G., Winker, K., Swayne, D.E. 2007. An avian influenza virus from waterfowl in South America contains genes from North American avian and equine lineages. Avian Diseases (Supplemental). 51:273-274.

Interpretive Summary: Avian influenza virus has only been reported in South America once previously, however there is minimal surveillance of wild birds. The previous report was of an H7N3 in commercial chickens and turkeys in Chile in 2002. This report presents the initial genetic characterization of an H7N3 avian influenza virus isolated from a samples collected from a cinnamon teal in Bolivia in 2001, prior to the outbreak in Chile. Genetic analysis reveals that five of the eight influenza gene segments are closely related to the virus isolates in 2002 in Chile. The remaining three genes were closely related to avian influenza viruses from wild birds in North America, one of the genes was also closely related to an equine influenza virus from Argentina isolated in 1988.

Technical Abstract: Apart from an outbreak in commercial poultry in Chile in 2002, there have been few reports of avian influenza in South America. However surveillance in free-flying birds has been limited. An avian influenza virus was isolated from a Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) in Bolivia in 2001 from samples collected for an avian influenza virus and avian paramyxovirus surveillance study. This isolate was determined to be an H7N3 by gene sequencing. Analysis of all eight genes revealed that five genes were most closely related to the H7N3 in Chile in 2002. Two genes were most closely related to North American wild bird origin-like avian influenza viruses and one gene was most closely related to an equine influenza virus from South America.