title: Shedding of a low pathogenic avian influenza virus in a common synanthropic mammal--the cottontail rabbit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.) are common mammals throughout much of the U.S. and are often found in peridomestic settings, potentially interacting with livestock and poultry operations. If these animals are susceptible to avian influenza virus (AIV) infections and shed the virus in sufficient quantities they may pose a risk for movement of avian influenza viruses between wildlife and domestic animals in certain situations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To assess the viral shedding potential of AIV in cottontails, we nasally inoculated fourteen cottontails with a low pathogenic AIV (H4N6). All inoculated cottontails shed relatively large quantities of viral RNA both nasally (≤ 10(6.94) PCR EID50 equivalents/mL) and orally (≤ 10(5.09) PCR EID50 equivalents/mL). However, oral shedding tended to decline more quickly than did nasal shedding. No animals showed any obvious signs of disease throughout the study. Evidence of a serological response was found in all infected rabbits at 22 days post infection in convalescent sera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, cottontails have not been previously assessed for AIV shedding. However, it was obvious that they shed AIV RNA extensively via the nasal and oral routes. This is significant, as cottontails are widely distributed throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. These mammals are often found in highly peridomestic situations, such as farms, parks, and suburban neighborhoods, often becoming habituated to human activities. Thus, if infected these mammals could easily transport AIVs short distances.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: J Jeffrey
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Root
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shriner
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Bentler
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gidlewski
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mooers
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Terry R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Spraker
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kaci K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: VanDalen
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007793:Lagomorpha / Q000821:virology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
references.citation: Curr Protoc Microbiol. 2006 Dec;Chapter 15:Unit 15G.1
references.pmid: 18770580
references.citation: Avian Dis. 2010 Mar;54(1 Suppl):405-10
references.pmid: 20521670
references.citation: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2010 Jul;29(7):591-4
references.pmid: 20589976
references.citation: PLoS One. 2014 Aug 15;9(8):e102964
references.pmid: 25127468
references.citation: J Virol. 2009 Sep;83(17):8957-64
references.pmid: 19553321
references.citation: Avian Dis. 2011 Jun;55(2):180-6
references.pmid: 21793431
references.citation: J Clin Microbiol. 2002 Sep;40(9):3256-60
references.pmid: 12202562
references.citation: J Vet Diagn Invest. 2010 Jan;22(1):3-9
references.pmid: 20093676
references.citation: Bull World Health Organ. 1970;42(5):779-85
references.pmid: 4988696
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2005 Mar 1;226(5):767-72
references.pmid: 15776951
references.citation: PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39206
references.pmid: 22720076
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Jun;16(6):1043-5
references.pmid: 20507775
references.citation: Avian Dis. 2003;47(3 Suppl):956-67
references.pmid: 14575094
references.citation: Rev Sci Tech. 2009 Apr;28(1):137-59
references.pmid: 19618623
references.citation: Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Dec;14(12):1842-8
references.pmid: 19046505
references.citation: J Wildl Dis. 2008 Apr;44(2):362-8
references.pmid: 18436668
references.citation: Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2011 Aug;11(8):1115-23
references.pmid: 21142955
references.citation: PLoS One. 2011 Mar 31;6(3):e17643
references.pmid: 21483843
references.citation: Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Jul;32(4):255-73
references.pmid: 18485480
references.citation: Infect Immun. 1981 Nov;34(2):354-61
references.pmid: 7309229
references.citation: PLoS One. 2014 Jan 29;9(1):e70639
references.pmid: 24489638
references.citation: Science. 2006 Apr 21;312(5772):394-7
references.pmid: 16627737
references.citation: J Wildl Dis. 2013 Oct;49(4):1060-2
references.pmid: 24502742