GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF H13 AND H16 INFLUENZA A VIRUSES IN GULLS (LARUSSPP.) WITH CLINICALLY SEVERE DISEASE AND CONCURRENT CIRCOVIRUS INFECTION

• DOI: 10.7589/2016-09-212
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06T16:42:43Z
• Authors: Erika Lindh; Christine Ek-Komm...; Marja Isomursu; Jukka Alasaari; Antti Vaheri; Olli Vapalahti; Anita Huovilainen
• Keywords: Charadriiformes; Circovirus; Reassortment; Anseriformes

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) of the subtypes H13 and H16 are primarily found in gulls ( Larus spp., order Charadriiformes). Although gull-adapted replicate efficiently during infection, usually remain apparently healthy infection. Avian influenza virus isolates generally separated into two distinct populations, North American Eurasian, because limited gene flow between continents. Reassortment these lineages does occur occasionally; however, direct intercontinental transmission all eight segments is rare. Extensive research has been done to understand ecology IAV that naturally circulate ducks (order Anseriformes), but IAVs remains far less studied. In Finland, were screened for passive (dead diseased gulls) active (clinically surveillance purposes years 2005-10. During period, 11 H13, viruses, one H3N8 detected. We sequenced partial full-length hemagglutinin genes gull-origin phylogenetic assessments. All clustered together with northern European northeastern Asian whereas viruses. Interestingly, a high rate (10/14) low-pathogenic was detected dead or gulls. The atypical clinical status IAV-positive previous observations circovirus-like inclusion bodies autopsies, led us screen concurrent circovirus infections our samples. DNA circovirus, an immunosuppressive pathogen both birds mammals, 54% (7/13) tested gulls, only 25% (14/56) panel IAV-negative positive by PCR.