Survey of Influenza A Viruses Circulating in Wild Birds in Canada 2005 to 2007.

The article discusses the findings of a multi-agency survey of influenza A viruses circulating in wild birds in Canada from 2005 to 2007. Cloacal swab specimens that were collected from young-of-year ducks were analyzed for the presence of influenza A nucleic acids using quantitative, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR). Surveillance of dead birds, using RRT-PCR, was also conducted in 2006 and 2007. A total of 4,268 cloacal swab specimens were collected from juvenile ducks, 37 percent of which were positive for influenza A virus nucleic acid. The authors concluded that their survey provided relevant information on the circulation of H5 and H7 influenza virus subtypes in wild bird reservoir.