Heterosubtypic immunity to influenza A virus infections in mallards may explain existence of multiple virus subtypes.

ABSTRACT: Wild birds, particularly duck species, are the main reservoir of influenza A virus (IAV) in nature. However, knowledge of IAV infection dynamics in the wild bird reservoir, and the development of immune responses, are essentially absent. Importantly, a detailed understanding of how subtype diversity is generated and maintained is lacking. To address this, 18,679 samples from 7728 Mallard ducks captured between 2002 and 2009 at a single stopover site in Sweden were screened for IAV infections, and the resulting 1081 virus isolates were analyzed for patterns of immunity. We found support for development of homosubtypic hemagglutinin (HA) immunity during the peak of IAV infections in the fall. Moreover, re-infections with the same HA subtype and related prevalent HA subtypes were uncommon, su

SUBMITTER: Latorre-Margalef N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3688562 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature