The susceptibility of magpies to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1.
Korean wild magpies (Pica pica sericea) were intranasally inoculated with highly pathogenic avian influenza (A/Chicken/Korea/ES/03 virus) (H5N1), which was classified as clade 2.5. We estimated viral replication, death after infection, and histology and immunohistochemistry. This species was highly susceptible to severe infection; 100% of birds died within 5 to 8 d. The virus was detected from oropharyngeal (1 to 5 d postinfection) and cloacal (3 to 5 d postinfection) swabs from infected magpies. At necropsy, the prominent lesions were coalescing necrosis of the pancreas with enlargement of livers and spleens. Microscopically, pancreas, brain, heart, adrenal gland, and kidney were most consistently affected with necrotic and inflammatory changes, and viral antigen was frequently demonstrated in the parenchyma of these organs. As a result, Korean wild magpies were very susceptible to avian influenza (H5N1) virus.
Kwon
Y K
YK
National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Kyeonggi 430-824, Korea. kwonyk@nvrqs.go.kr
Kwon
K Y
KY
Joh
S J
SJ
Kim
M C
MC
Kang
M S
MS
Lee
Y J
YJ
Kwon
J H
JH
Kim
J H
JH
D000547:Amantadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000818:Animals; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D046109:Passeriformes
D000547:Amantadine; C004279:tromantadine