Possible Role of Songbirds and Parakeets in Transmission of Influenza A(H7N9) Virus to Humans

• DOI: 10.3201/eid2003.131271
• Publication Date: 2014-01-24T15:24:20Z
• Authors: Jeremy C. Jones; Stephanie Sonnberg; Zeynep A. Koçer; Karthik Shanmugan...; Patrick Seiler; Yuelong Shu; Huachen Zhu; Yi Guan; Malik Peiris; Richard J. Webby; Robert G. Webster
• Keywords: China; sparrow; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype; Virus Replication; Songbirds; 03 medical and health sciences; budgerigar; Influenza, Human; Animals; Humans; 0303 health sciences; influenza virus H7N9; Research; Parakeets; R; influenza virus avian; Virus Shedding; 3. Good health; Influenza in Birds; Medicine; influenza virus human; finch; Water Microbiology

Avian-origin influenza A(H7N9) recently emerged in China, causing severe human disease. Several subtype H7N9 isolates contain genes previously identified viruses from finch-like birds. Because wild and domestic songbirds interact with humans poultry, we investigated the susceptibility transmissibility of these species. Finches, sparrows, parakeets supported replication a isolate, shed high titers through oropharyngeal route, showed few disease signs. Virus was into water troughs, several contact animals seroconverted, although they little virus. Our study demonstrates that isolate can replicate be by such their environment. This finding has implications for birds' potential as intermediate hosts ability to facilitate transmission dissemination