Influenza A viruses remain infectious for more than seven months in northern wetlands of North America.

ABSTRACT: In this investigation, we used a combination of field- and laboratory-based approaches to assess if influenza A viruses (IAVs) shed by ducks could remain viable for extended periods in surface water within three wetland complexes of North America. In a field experiment, replicate filtered surface water samples inoculated with duck swabs were tested for IAVs upon collection and again after an overwintering period of approximately 6-7 months. Numerous IAVs were molecularly detected and isolated from these samples, including replicates maintained at wetland field sites in Alaska and Minnesota for 181-229 days. In a parallel laboratory experiment, we attempted to culture IAVs from filtered surface water samples inoculated with duck swabs from Minnesota each month during September 2018-April 20

SUBMITTER: Ramey AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7542776 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature