Viral shedding of clade 2.3.4.4 H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses by American robins

• Main Authors: Root, J. Jeffrey, Bosco-Lauth, Angela M., Marlenee, Nicole L., Bowen, Richard A.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2018
• Subjects: American robin; Avian influenza A virus; Biosecurity; Clade 2.3.4.4; Experimental infection; H5N2; H5N8; Highly pathogenic; Outbreak; Passerine; Turdus migratorius; Life Sciences; Anas acuta; Falco rusticolus; gyrfalcon
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/2215; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/icwdm_usdanwrc/article/3218/viewcontent/Root_TED_2018_Viral_shedding.pdf

American robins (Turdus migratorius) are commonly associated with farmsteads in the United States and have shown previous evidence of exposure to an H5 avian influenza A virus (IAV) near a poultry production facility affected by a highly pathogenic (HP) H5 virus in Iowa, USA during 2015. We experimentally infected American robins with three clade 2.3.4.4 HP H5 viruses (H5N2 and H5N8). A total of 22/24 American robins shed virus, and all three strains were represented. The highest virus titres shed were 104.3, 104.3 and 104.8 PFU/ml, associated respectively with viruses isolated from poultry, a captive gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), and a Northern pintail (Anas acuta). Of those birds that shed, viral shedding was initiated 1 or 2 days post‐infection (DPI) and shedding ceased in all birds by 7 DPI. This study adds an additional synanthropic wildlife species to a growing list of animals that can successfully replicate and shed IAVs.