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. 2013 Mar 28;44(1):23.
doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-23.

Pathobiology and transmission of highly and low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix)

Kateri Bertran  1 , Roser Dolz, Núria Busquets, Virginia Gamino, Júlia Vergara-Alert, Aida J Chaves, Antonio Ramis, F Xavier Abad, Ursula Höfle, Natàlia Majó
Affiliations

Pathobiology and transmission of highly and low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix)

Kateri Bertran et al. Vet Res. .

Abstract

European quail (Coturnix c. coturnix) may share with Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) its potential as an intermediate host and reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). To elucidate this question, European quail were experimentally challenged with two highly pathogenic AIV (HPAIV) (H7N1/HP and H5N1/HP) and one low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV) (H7N2/LP). Contact animals were also used to assess the viral transmission among birds. Severe neurological signs and mortality rates of 67% (H7N1/HP) and 92% (H5N1/HP) were observed. Although histopathological findings were present in both HPAIV-infected groups, H5N1/HP-quail displayed a broader viral antigen distribution and extent of microscopic lesions. Neither clinical nor pathological involvement was observed in LPAIV-infected quail. Consistent long-term viral shedding and effective transmission to naive quail was demonstrated for the three studied AIV. Drinking water arose as a possible transmission route and feathers as a potential origin of HPAIV dissemination. The present study demonstrates that European quail may play a major role in AI epidemiology, highlighting the need to further understand its putative role as an intermediate host for avian/mammalian reassortant viruses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Survival rates of quail intranasally challenged with either H7N1/HP or H5N1/HP. a. Intranasally inoculated quail. b. Contact quail.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of NP antigen in positive tissues of a quail intranasally challenged with H5N1/HP. a. Brain, 7 dpi. b. Positive staining in nucleus and cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells. c. Heart, 5 dpi. d. Positive staining in nucleus and cytoplasm of myocardiocytes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Viral RNA shedding detected by RRT-PCR in quail experimentally challenged with AIV. Results are expressed as inverted Ct-values and shown as means of positive individuals ± SD. Tables indicate the ratio between positive quail and total quail examined per day and sample. Ct, cycle of threshold; DPI, days post-inoculation; OS, oropharyngeal swabs; CS, cloacal swabs; FP, feather pulps. a. Quail intranasally inoculated with H7N2/LP. b. Contact quail of H7N2/LP. c. Quail intranasally inoculated with H7N1/HP. d. Contact quail of H7N1/HP. e. Quail intranasally inoculated with H5N1/HP. f. Contact quail of H5N1/HP.
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