Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T20:25:04.747Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mounting evidence for the presence of influenza A virus in the avifauna of the Antarctic region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2006

Anders Wallensten ,
Vincent J. Munster ,
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus ,
Jonas Waldenström ,
Jonas Bonnedahl ,
Tina Broman ,
Ron A.M. Fouchier  and
Björn Olsen
Anders Wallensten
Affiliation:
Smedby Health Center, Kalmar County Council, SE-39471 Kalmar, Sweden Division of Virology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine (IMK) Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Vincent J. Munster
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jonas Waldenström
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Kalmar University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
Jonas Bonnedahl
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Tina Broman
Affiliation:
Department of NBC Analysis, Swedish Defence Research Agency, NBC Defence, SE-901 82 Umeå, Sweden
Ron A.M. Fouchier
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Björn Olsen
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Kalmar University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Penguin blood samples collected at Bird Island, sub-Antarctic South Georgia, and faecal samples taken from penguins at several localities along the Antarctic Peninsula were analysed in order to investigate if influenza A virus is present in penguin populations in the South Atlantic Antarctic region. Serology was performed on the blood samples while the faecal samples were screened by a RT-PCR method directed at the matrix protein gene for determining the presence of influenza A virus. All faecal samples were negative by PCR, but the blood samples gave serologic indications that influenza A virus is present amongst these penguin species, confirming previous studies, although the virus has still not been isolated from any bird in the Antarctic region.

Keywords

avian influenzaRT-PCRserologysub-Antarctica
Type
LIFE SCIENCES
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , September 2006 , pp. 353 - 356
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)