Rapid death of duck cells infected with influenza: a potential mechanism for host resistance to H5N1.

ABSTRACT: Aquatic birds are the natural reservoir for most subtypes of influenza A, and a source of novel viruses with the potential to cause human pandemics, fatal zoonotic disease or devastating epizootics in poultry. It is well recognised that waterfowl typically show few clinical signs following influenza A infection, in contrast, terrestrial poultry such as chickens may develop severe disease with rapid death following infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza. This study examined the cellular response to influenza infection in primary cells derived from resistant (duck) and susceptible (chicken) avian hosts. Paradoxically, we observed that duck cells underwent rapid cell death following infection with low pathogenic avian H2N3, classical swine H1N1 and 'classical' highly pathogenic H5N1

SUBMITTER: Kuchipudi SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3257048 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature