The feather epithelium contributes to the dissemination and ecology of clade 2.3.4.4b H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in ducks
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Author
Gaide, Nicolas
Filaire, Fabien
Bertran, Kateri
Crispo, Manuela
Dirat, Malorie
Secula, Aurélie
Foret-Lucas, Charlotte
Payré, Bruno
Perlas, Albert
Soubies, Sébastien
Guérin, Jean-Luc
Publication date
2023-11-03ISSN
2222-1751
Abstract
Immature feathers are known replication sites for high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in poultry.
However, it is unclear whether feathers play an active role in viral transmission. This study aims to investigate the
contribution of the feather epithelium to the dissemination of clade 2.3.4.4b goose/Guangdong/1996 lineage H5
HPAIVs in the environment, based on natural and experimental infections of domestic mule and Muscovy ducks.
During the 2016–2022 outbreaks, H5 HPAIVs exhibited persistent and marked feather epitheliotropism in naturally
infected commercial ducks. Infection of the feather epithelium resulted in epithelial necrosis and disruption, as well
as the production and environmental shedding of infectious virions. Viral and feather antigens colocalized in dust
samples obtained from poultry barns housing naturally infected birds. In summary, the feather epithelium
contributes to viral replication, and it is a likely source of environmental infectious material. This underestimated
excretion route could greatly impact the ecology of HPAIVs, facilitating airborne and preening-related infections
within a flock, and promoting prolonged viral infectivity and long-distance viral transmission between poultry farms.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
619 - Veterinary science
Pages
11
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Is part of
Emerging Microbes & Infections
Citation
Gaide, Nicolas, Fabien Filaire, Kateri Bertran, Manuela Crispo, Malorie Dirat, Aurélie Sécula, Charlotte Foret‐Lucas, et al. 2023. “The feather epithelium contributes to the dissemination and ecology of clade 2.3.4.4b H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in ducks”. Emerging microbes & infections 12 (2): 2272644. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2272644.
Grant agreement number
EC/H2020/731014/EU/Veterinary Biocontained facility Network for excellence in animal infectiology research and experimentation/VetBioNet
Program
Sanitat Animal
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2661]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/