Susceptibility of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1)

• Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Authors: John Pasick, Yohannes Berhane, Carissa Embury-Hyatt, John Copps, Helen Kehler, Katherine Handel, Shawn Babiuk, Kathleen Hooper-McGrevy, Yan Li, Quynh Mai Le, Song Lien Phuong
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2007
• Subjects: Influenza A virus; (H5N1) subtype; pathogenesis; immunity; research; Canada; Medicine; R; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Olor; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1312.070502; https://doaj.org/article/e845ae5d18344f13ad783e212f97cacd

Migratory birds have been implicated in the long-range spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus (H5N1) from Asia to Europe and Africa. Although sampling of healthy wild birds representing a large number of species has not identified possible carriers of influenza virus (H5N1) into Europe, surveillance of dead and sick birds has demonstrated mute (Cygnus olor) and whooper (C. cygnus) swans as potential sentinels. Because of concerns that migratory birds could spread H5N1 subtype to the Western Hemisphere and lead to its establishment within free-living avian populations, experimental studies have addressed the susceptibility of several indigenous North American duck and gull species. We examined the susceptibility of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) to HPAI virus (H5N1). Large populations of this species can be found in periagricultural and periurban settings and thus may be of potential epidemiologic importance if H5N1 subtype were to establish itself in North American wild bird populations.