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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 #317814
Title: Pathobiology of avian influenza in domestic ducks

Author
item Pantin Jackwood, Mary

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Domestic ducks are an important source of food and income in many parts of the world. The susceptibility of domestic ducks to avian influenza (AI) viruses varies depending on many factors, including the species and the age of the ducks, the virus strain, and management practices. Although wild waterfowl are the principal natural reservoirs of AI viruses, domestic ducks also have an important role in AI epidemiology, serving as intermediaries in the transmission of viruses between wild waterfowl and other poultry species. Ducks naturally or experimentally infected with most AI viruses, including highly pathogenic (HP) strains, only develop mild disease. However, many Asian (Guangdong lineage) H5N1 HPAI viruses have been shown to produce severe disease and mortality in ducks. More recent H5 HPAI viruses, related to the Guangdong lineage H5N1 HPAI viruses, can also cause disease in ducks and in some cases mortality. To better control AI is important to understand the pathobiology of AI viruses in domestic ducks. In this chapter, we summarize experimental studies examining AI virus infection in ducks.

Technical Abstract: Domestic ducks are an important source of food and income in many parts of the world. The susceptibility of domestic ducks to avian influenza (AI) viruses varies depending on many factors, including the species and the age of the ducks, the virus strain, and management practices. Although wild waterfowl are the principal natural reservoirs of AI viruses, domestic ducks also have an important role in AI epidemiology, serving as intermediaries in the transmission of viruses between wild waterfowl and other poultry species. Ducks naturally or experimentally infected with most AI viruses, including highly pathogenic (HP) strains, only develop mild disease. However, many Asian (Guangdong lineage) H5N1 HPAI viruses have been shown to produce severe disease and mortality in ducks. More recent H5 HPAI viruses, related to the Guangdong lineage H5N1 HPAI viruses, can also cause disease in ducks and in some cases mortality. To better control AI is important to understand the pathobiology of AI viruses in domestic ducks. In this chapter, we summarize experimental studies examining AI virus infection in ducks.