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Shedding of a Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in a Common Synanthropic Mammal – The Cottontail Rabbit
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 8, p e102513 (2014)
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2014.
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.) are common mammals throughout much of the U.S. and are often found in peridomestic settings, potentially interacting with livestock and poultry operations. If these animals are susceptible to avian influenza virus (AIV) infections and shed the virus in sufficient quantities they may pose a risk for movement of avian influenza viruses between wildlife and domestic animals in certain situations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To assess the viral shedding potential of AIV in cottontails, we nasally inoculated fourteen cottontails with a low pathogenic AIV (H4N6). All inoculated cottontails shed relatively large quantities of viral RNA both nasally (≤ 10(6.94) PCR EID50 equivalents/mL) and orally (≤ 10(5.09) PCR EID50 equivalents/mL). However, oral shedding tended to decline more quickly than did nasal shedding. No animals showed any obvious signs of disease throughout the study. Evidence of a serological response was found in all infected rabbits at 22 days post infection in convalescent sera. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, cottontails have not been previously assessed for AIV shedding. However, it was obvious that they shed AIV RNA extensively via the nasal and oral routes. This is significant, as cottontails are widely distributed throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. These mammals are often found in highly peridomestic situations, such as farms, parks, and suburban neighborhoods, often becoming habituated to human activities. Thus, if infected these mammals could easily transport AIVs short distances.
- Subjects :
- Viral Diseases
viruses
animal diseases
lcsh:Medicine
medicine.disease_cause
Serology
Zoonoses
Medicine and Health Sciences
Influenza A virus
lcsh:Science
Small Animals
Avian influenza A viruses
Multidisciplinary
Ecology
virus diseases
Medical microbiology
Terrestrial Environments
Virus Shedding
Infectious Diseases
Veterinary Diseases
Organ Specificity
RNA, Viral
Livestock
Anatomy
Research Article
Histology
Animal Types
Cottontail rabbit
Biology
Microbiology
Virus
Virology
medicine
Animals
Influenza viruses
Serologic Tests
Terrestrial Ecology
Viral shedding
Biology and life sciences
business.industry
lcsh:R
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Viral pathogens
Lagomorpha
biology.organism_classification
Influenza
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
Microbial pathogens
lcsh:Q
Veterinary Science
Mammal
business
Zoology
Viral Transmission and Infection
Orthomyxoviruses
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cadfd1e3898cd57c577e56b77a6a3ab5