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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323934
Title: The pathobiology of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza virus in Ruddy ducks and Lesser Scaup

Author
item Spackman, Erica
item PROSSER, DIANN - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item Pantin Jackwood, Mary
item Swayne, David

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The susceptibility and pathogenesis of avian influenza virus (AIV) has not been characterized in numerous duck species, especially diving ducks, some of which migrate across the continental U.S. The pathobiology of highly pathogenic (HP) H5N2 AIV was characterized in two diving duck species, Ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) and Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis). Adult ducks and hatching eggs for both species were obtained from captive breeding colonies at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Patuxent, MD. Adult Ruddy ducks (serologically negative for AIV antibody) were evaluated with exposure to three doses of A/Northern Pintail/WA/40964/2014 H5N2 HPAIV (10^6, 10^4 and 10^2 50% egg infectious doses) and juveniles were only exposed to the highest dose. There were only sufficient juvenile Lesser Scaup to expose to the two highest doses. Virus shed, clinical disease, mortality, gross, and microscopic lesions were evaluated. There was no HPAIV mortality or disease in the adult Ruddy ducks or in the juvenile Lesser Scaup. There was 60% mortality in the juvenile Ruddy duck group, but no gross lesions were observed. Virus shed and microscopic data are pending.