Biologic Characterization of Chicken-Derived H6N2 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses in Chickens and Ducks.

The article focuses on a study which biologically characterized low pathogenic avian influenza H6N2 viruses in chickens and ducks in an effort to compare the adaptation of such viruses. The study examined the clinical signs, virus shedding and immune response to infection in four-week-old white leghorn chickens and two-week-old Pekin ducks. Virus shedding for all of the viruses was found in the oral-pharyngeal swabs from chickens at two and four days postinoculation (PI). Study authors concluded that H6N2 viruses can infect chickens and ducks, and the adaptation of such viruses is better in chickens based on the number of birds shedding virus and histopathology.