Mounting evidence for the presence of influenza A virus in the avifauna of the Antarctic region

Penguin blood samples collected at Bird Island, sub-Antarctic South Georgia, and faecal samples taken from penguins at several localities along the Antarctic Peninsula were analysed in order to investigate if influenza A virus is present in penguin populations in the South Atlantic Antarctic region....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Wallensten, A, Munster, V J, Osterhaus, A D M E, Waldenström, Jonas, Bonnedahl, J, Broman, T, Fouchier, R A M, Olsen, B
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2006
Subjects:
Ecology
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula
Bird Island
Antarc*
Antarctic Science
Online Access:https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/162725
https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410200600040X
Description
Summary:Penguin blood samples collected at Bird Island, sub-Antarctic South Georgia, and faecal samples taken from penguins at several localities along the Antarctic Peninsula were analysed in order to investigate if influenza A virus is present in penguin populations in the South Atlantic Antarctic region. Serology was performed on the blood samples while the faecal samples were screened by a RT-PCR method directed at the matrix protein gene for determining the presence of influenza A virus. All faecal samples were negative by PCR, but the blood samples gave serologic indications that influenza A virus is present amongst these penguin species, confirming previous studies, although the virus has still not been isolated from any bird in the Antarctic region.

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