Homo- and Heterosubtypic Immunity to Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Mitigates the Clinical Outcome of Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4.b in Captive Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).

ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated the clinical response, viral shedding, transmissibility, pathologic lesions, and tropism of HPAIV Gs/Gd H5N8 subtype (clade 2.3.4.4b), following experimental infection of three groups of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos): (i) fully susceptible, (ii) pre-exposed to low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H5N1 subtype, and (iii) pre-exposed to LPAIV H3N8 subtype. Infection of naïve mallards with HPAIV H5N8 resulted in ~60% mortality, neurological signs, abundant shedding, and transmission to contact ducks, who also became sick and died. High amounts of viral RNA were found in all collected organs, with the highest RNA load recorded in the brain. The IHC examinations performed on tissues collected at 4 and 14 days post-infection (dpi) revealed tr

SUBMITTER: Tarasiuk K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9964785 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature