title: Lowly pathogenic avian influenza (H9N2) infection in Plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae), Qinghai Lake, China.
abstract: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are globally important contagions. Several domestic mammals can be infected with AIVs and may play important roles in the adaptation and transmission of these viruses in mammals, although the roles of wild mammals in the natural ecology of AIVs are not yet clear. Here, we performed a serological survey of apparently healthy Plateau pikas at Qinghai Lake in China to assess the prevalence of exposure to AIVs. Ninety-two of 293 (31%) of wild Plateau pikas possessed serum antibodies against a lowly pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 virus. Experimental inoculation of Plateau pikas with a LPAI H9N2 virus resulted in productive viral replication in respiratory tissues without prior adaptation. Our findings suggest that Plateau pikas represent a natural mammalian host to H9N2 AIVs and may play a role in the ongoing circulation of H9N2 viruses at Qinghai Lake in China. Surveillance for AIV infection in Plateau pika populations and other mammals that have close contact with the Plateau pikas should be considered.
authors: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Yu
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China; Dairy Cattle Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
authors: Kaihui
authors: K
authors: Cheng
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Weiyang
authors: W
authors: Sun
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Xin
authors: Animal Disease Control and Prevention Center in Qinghai Province, Xining, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jinshan
authors: J
authors: Cai
authors: Animal Disease Control and Prevention Center in Qinghai Province, Xining, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ruilin
authors: R
authors: Ma
authors: Animal Disease Control and Prevention Center in Qinghai Province, Xining, People's Republic of China.
authors: Quanbang
authors: Q
authors: Zhao
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaoyu
authors: X
authors: Sang
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China; Changchun Institute of Biological Products, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Zhang
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Tiecheng
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Chuan
authors: C
authors: Qin
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Qian
authors: Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: gaoyuwei@gmail.com.
authors: Yuwei
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China; Military Veterinary Research Institute of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xiaxianzhu1939@126.com.
authors: Xianzhu
authors: X
authors: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007793:Lagomorpha; D060106:Lakes; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Avian influenza virus; H9N2; Plateau pika; Qinghai Lake; Serological survey