Influenza A virus infections in land birds, People's Republic of China.
Water birds are considered the reservoir for avian influenza viruses. We examined this assumption by sampling and real-time reverse transcription-PCR testing of 939 Asian land birds of 153 species. Influenza A infection was found, particularly among migratory species. Surveillance programs for monitoring spread of these viruses need to be redesigned.
Peterson
A Townsend
AT
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA. town@ku.edu
Bush
Sarah E
SE
Spackman
Erica
E
Swayne
David E
DE
Ip
Hon S
HS
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*