Journal article
Virulence of H5N1 Influenza Virus in Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis)
National Institute of Veterinary Research1
Section for Veterinary Diagnostics, Division of Veterinary Diagnostics and Research, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark2
Division of Veterinary Diagnostics and Research, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark3
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark4
University of Copenhagen5
In Vietnam, Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are common in a variety of habitats, such as freshwater marshes, beaches, and paddy fields. They are also found associated with cattle (Bos spp.) and occasionally with pigs (Sus scrofa), goats (Capra hircus), and horses (Equus caballus) and are kept for insect control in households.
In this study, six Cattle Egrets were experimentally infected intranasally with highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) A/duck/Vietnam/40D/04 (H5N1) to investigate a possible epidemiologic role for Cattle Egrets in outbreaks of H5N1 AI in Vietnam. The Cattle Egrets were highly susceptible to the infection and either died within a week or had to be euthanized.
Five uninfected chickens housed with the inoculated Cattle Egrets from day 1 to day 8 postinfection showed no signs of disease or mortality. This observation was most probably due to the low-level virus shedding by the Cattle Egrets. We concluded that Cattle Egrets are not significant reservoir hosts for H5N1 AI virus.
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Wildlife Disease Association |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Pages: | 314-320 |
| ISSN: | 19433700 and 00903558 |
| Types: | Journal article |
| DOI: | 10.7589/0090-3558-47.2.314 |
| ORCIDs: | 0000-0002-6430-9010 |
