Ecologic Immunology of Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Migratory Birds

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Emerg Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Weber, Thomas P. ; Stilianakis, Nikolaos I.
• Description:
  The claim that migratory birds are responsible for the long-distance spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of subtype H5N1 rests on the assumption that infected wild birds can remain asymptomatic and migrate long distances unhampered. We critically assess this claim from the perspective of ecologic immunology, a research field that analyzes immune function in an ecologic, physiologic, and evolutionary context. Long-distance migration is one of the most demanding activities in the animal world. We show that several studies demonstrate that such prolonged, intense exercise leads to immunosuppression and that migratory performance is negatively affected by infections. These findings make it unlikely that wild birds can spread the virus along established long-distance migration pathways. However, infected, symptomatic wild birds may act as vectors over shorter distances, as appears to have occurred in Europe in early 2006.
• Subjects:
  Animal Migration Animals Avian Influenza Avian Migration Biological Evolution Birds Ecologic Immunology Ecology Exercise H5N1 Immunocompetence Immunosuppression Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype Influenza In Birds Migratory Birds Perspective Stress

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• Source:
  Emerg Infect Dis. 13(8):1139-1143.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  13
• Issue:
  8
• Collection(s):
  Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e2bd2c5980ccec317e14aa9d0ab6b40081056f4f530eec24f6007c56e781fc14
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/16769/cdc_16769_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 66.86 KB ]