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. 2016 May;60(1 Suppl):341-5.
doi: 10.1637/11103-042115-Reg.

Antibodies to Influenza A Viruses in Gulls at Delaware Bay, USA

Kayla Guinn  1 , Alinde Fojtik  1 , Nick Davis-Fields  1 , Rebecca L Poulson  1 , Scott Krauss  2 , Robert G Webster  2 , David E Stallknecht  1
Affiliations

Antibodies to Influenza A Viruses in Gulls at Delaware Bay, USA

Kayla Guinn et al. Avian Dis. 2016 May.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Gulls are the known reservoir for H13 and H16 influenza A viruses (IAV) but also host a diversity of other IAV subtypes. Gulls also share habitats with both ducks and shorebirds, increasing the potential for cross-species IAV transmission. We serologically tested laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) collected at Delaware Bay during May when they were in direct contact with IAV-infected shorebirds; both species feed on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs on beaches during this month. From 2010 to 2014, antibody prevalence as determined by competitive blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ranged from 25%-72%. Antibodies to H13 and H16 were detected by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests in 12% and 24% of tested gulls, respectively. Results from virus microneutralization (MN) tests for antibodies to H1-H12, H14, and H15 varied among years but the highest prevalence of neutralizing antibodies was detected against H1 (24%), H5 (25%), H6 (35%), H9 (33%), and H11 (42%) IAV. The subtype diversity identified by serology in gulls was dominated by Group 1 HA subtypes and only partially reflected the diversity of IAV subtypes isolated from shorebirds.

Anticuerpos contra el virus de la influenza A en gaviotas en la Bahía de Delaware, en los Estados Unidos. Las gaviotas son el reservorio conocido de los virus de la influenza H13 y H16 (IAV), pero también son los hospederos de una diversidad de otros subtipos del virus de la influenza. Las gaviotas también comparten hábitat con patos y aves costeras, lo que aumenta la posibilidad de que transmisión cruzada de virus de la influenza entre las especies. Se analizaron de manera serológica las gaviotas reidoras (Leucophaeus atricilla) recolectadas en la bahía de Delaware durante el mes de Mayo cuando estaban en contacto directo con aves playeras infectadas por el IAV; ambas especies se alimentan de los huevos de cangrejos de herradura (Limulus polyphemus) en las playas durante este mes. De 2010 a 2014, la prevalencia de anticuerpos determinada por un ensayo de inmunoabsorción con enzimas ligadas de tipo competitivo, osciló entre de 25% a 72%. Los anticuerpos para H13 y H16 fueron detectados por pruebas de inhibición de la hemaglutinación (HI) en el 12% y 24% de las gaviotas ensayadas, respectivamente. Los resultados de pruebas de microneutralización viral (MN) para anticuerpos contra H1-H12, H14 y H15 varió entre años, pero la mayor prevalencia de anticuerpos neutralizantes se detectó en contra virus de influenza H1 (24%), H5 (25%), H6 (35%), H9 (33%) y H11 (42%). La diversidad de subtipo identificada por serología en gaviotas estaba dominado por subtipos HA grupo 1 y refleja sólo parcialmente la diversidad de subtipos de virus de influenza aislados de aves playeras.

Keywords: Leucophaeus atricilla microneutralization; antibodies; influenza A virus; laughing gull; serology.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Hemagglutinin-specific antibody prevalence in laughing gulls as determined by MN (H1–12, 14, and 15) and HI (H13 and 16). Subtypes as arranged based on phylogenic relatedness. Error bars represent 95% confidence limits.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Antibody prevalence observed in laughing gulls (based on 104 and 82 samples tested by MN and HI, respectively) and HA subtype diversity represented in 234 reported IAV isolations from Laridae worldwide as included in the IRD (16). Error bars represent 95% confidence limits.
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