title: Avian Influenza in wild birds from Chile, 2007-2009.
abstract: Aquatic and migratory birds, the main reservoir hosts of avian influenza viruses including those with high pathogenic potential, are the wildlife species with the highest risk for viral dissemination across countries and continents. In 2002, the Chilean poultry industry was affected with a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain, which created economic loss and triggered the establishment of a surveillance program in wild birds. This effort consisted of periodic samplings of sick or suspicious animals found along the coast and analyses with standardized techniques for detection of influenza A virus. The aim of this work is to report the detection of three avian influenza strains (H13N2, H5N9, H13N9) in gulls from Chile between 2007-2009, which nucleotide sequences showed highest similitudes to viruses detected in wild birds from North America. These results suggest a dissemination route for influenza viruses along the coasts of Americas. Migratory and synanthropic behaviors of birds included in this study support continued monitoring of avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in The Americas and the establishment of biosecurity practices in farms.
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Avian Section Diagnostic Virology Laboratory, National Veterinary Services Laboratories Ames, Iowa 50010.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Julissa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeria
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agredo
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.affiliation: Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero de Chile (SAG), Ruta 68 Km 22, Pudahuel, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avalos
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Av. Sta Rosa 11735, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: pretamal@uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Retamal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000821:virology*; D002677:Chile; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Chile; Influenza; Viruses; Wild birds