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. 2019 Mar 1;63(sp1):165-171.
doi: 10.1637/11850-041918-Reg.1.

Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Migrating Teal Sampled Along the United States Gulf Coast

Deborah Carter  1 , Paul Link  2 , Patrick Walther  3   4 , Andrew Ramey  5 , David Stallknecht  1 , Rebecca Poulson  6
Affiliations

Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Migrating Teal Sampled Along the United States Gulf Coast

Deborah Carter et al. Avian Dis. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Wild birds in the order Anseriformes are important reservoirs for influenza A viruses (IAVs); however, IAV prevalence and subtype diversity may vary by season, even at the same location. To better understand the ecology of IAV during waterfowl migration through the Gulf Coast of the United States (Louisiana and Texas), surveillance of blue-winged (Spatula discors) and American green-winged (Anas carolinensis) teal was conducted. The surveillance was done annually during the spring (live capture; 2012-17) and fall (hunter harvested; 2007-17) at times inferred to coincide with northward and southward movements, respectively, for these waterfowl species. During spring migration, 266 low pathogenicity (LP) IAV positive samples were recovered from 7547 paired cloacal-oropharyngeal (COP) samples (prevalence, 3.5%; annual range, 1.3%-8.4%). During fall migration, 650 LP IAV-positive samples were recovered from 9493 COP samples (prevalence, 6.8%; annual range, 0.4%-23.5%). Overall, 34 and 20 different IAV subtypes were recovered during fall and spring sampling, respectively. Consistent with previous results for fall migrating ducks, H3 and H4 hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes were most common; however, H4 subtype viruses predominated every year. This is in contrast to the predominance of LP H7 and H10 HA subtype viruses during spring. The N6 and N8 neuraminidase subtypes, which were usually associated with H4, were most common during fall; the N6 subtype was not recovered in the spring. These consistent seasonal trends in IAV subtype detection in teal are currently not understood and highlight the need for further research regarding potential drivers of spatiotemporal patterns of infection, such as population immunity.

Prevalencia del virus de la influenza A y diversidad de subtipos en cercetas migratorias muestreadas a lo largo de la costa del Golfo en los Estados Unidos. Las aves silvestres del orden Anseriformes son reservorios importantes para los virus de la influenza A; sin embargo, la prevalencia del virus de influenza aviar y la diversidad de subtipos puede variar según la temporada, incluso en el mismo lugar. Para comprender mejor la ecología del virus de la influenza aviar durante la migración de aves acuáticas a través de la Costa del Golfo en los Estados Unidos (Louisiana y Texas), se llevó a cabo el muestreo anual de cercetas de alas azules (Spatula discors) y de cercetas americanas (Anas carolinensis) tanto en primavera (capturadas vivas entre los años 2012-17) como en otoño (obtenidas por cazadores, entre los años 2007-17), periodos que se han inferido que a veces coinciden con los movimientos hacia el norte y hacia el sur, respectivamente, para estas especies de aves acuáticas. Durante la migración de primavera, se recuperaron 266 muestras positivas para influenza aviar de baja patogenicidad de 7547 muestras pareadas cloacales y orofaríngeas (prevalencia, 3.5%, rango anual de 1.3% a 8.4%). Durante la migración de otoño, se recuperaron 650 muestras positivas de 9493 muestras pareadas cloacales y orofaríngeas (prevalencia, 6.8%, rango anual, de 0.4% a 23.5%). En general, se recuperaron 34 y 20 subtipos diferentes de virus de la influenza aviar durante los muestreos de otoño y primavera, respectivamente. Consistente con los resultados anteriores para patos que migran en el otoño, los subtipos de hemoaglutinina H3 y H4 fueron los más comunes; sin embargo, los virus del subtipo H4 predominaron todos los años. Esto contrasta con la predominancia del subtipo H7 y H10 de baja patogenicidad durante la primavera. Los subtipos de neuraminidasa N6 y N8, que generalmente se asociaron con subtipos H4, fueron los más comunes durante el otoño; el subtipo N6 no se recuperó en la primavera. Estas tendencias estacionales constantes en la detección de subtipos del virus de influenza aviar en cercetas actualmente no se comprenden completamente y resaltan la necesidad de más investigación con respecto a los posibles factores determinates de los patrones espaciotemporales de infección, como la inmunidad de la población.

Keywords: American green-winged teal; Anas carolinensis; Spatula discors; blue-winged teal; influenza A virus; subtype; virus isolation.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Location of collection sites at county (Texas) or parish (Louisiana) level for this study. Shaded and numbered counties or parishes designate locations where collections occurred, based on time of year (black, fall only; black and white hatch, spring only; grey, at least one spring and at least one fall). Locations in Texas are as follows: 1) Brazoria County (Co.), 2) Chambers Co., and 3) Jefferson Co. Collection sites in Louisiana, by parish, include the following: 4) Cameron, 5) Calcasieu, 6) Evangeline, 7) La Salle, 8) Avoyelles, 9) Concordia, 10) St. Landry, 11) St. Martin, 12) Iberia, 13) St. Mary, 14) Lafourche, and 15) Plaquemines.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Overall prevalence of IAVs in BWTE (Spatula discors) and AGWT (Anas carolinensis) sampled in Texas and Louisiana in the spring (2012–17; grey filled diamonds) and fall (2007–17; black filled circles).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Relative distribution of IAV HA and NA subtypes in BWTE (Spatula discors) and AGWT (Anas carolinensis) sampled in Texas and Louisiana in the spring (2012–17; grey bars) and fall (2007–17; black bars). Bar height reflects the percent contribution of a given subtype combination to all IAV recovered in each season, spring or fall. Bar width below subtype combinations reflects relative number of NA subtypes detected per HA subtype.
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