title: Susceptibility of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1).
abstract: Migratory birds have been implicated in the long-range spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus (H5N1) from Asia to Europe and Africa. Although sampling of healthy wild birds representing a large number of species has not identified possible carriers of influenza virus (H5N1) into Europe, surveillance of dead and sick birds has demonstrated mute (Cygnus olor) and whooper (C. cygnus) swans as potential sentinels. Because of concerns that migratory birds could spread H5N1 subtype to the Western Hemisphere and lead to its establishment within free-living avian populations, experimental studies have addressed the susceptibility of several indigenous North American duck and gull species. We examined the susceptibility of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) to HPAI virus (H5N1). Large populations of this species can be found in periagricultural and periurban settings and thus may be of potential epidemiologic importance if H5N1 subtype were to establish itself in North American wild bird populations.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. jpasick@inspection.gc.ca
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pasick
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berhane
authors.forename: Carissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Embury-Hyatt
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Copps
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehler
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Handel
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babiuk
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hooper-McGrevy
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quynh
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mai Le
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lien Phuong
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000662:veterinary*; D005777:Geese / Q000821:virology*; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D009656:North America; D014774:Virulence