title: Avian Influenza Ecology in North Atlantic Sea Ducks: Not All Ducks Are Created Equal.
abstract: Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those populations. We also tested swab samples from North Atlantic sea ducks for the presence of AIV. We found relatively high serological prevalence (61%) in these sea duck populations but low virus prevalence (0.3%). Using these data we estimated that an antibody half-life of 141 weeks (3.2 years) would be required to attain these prevalences. These findings are much different than what is known in freshwater waterfowl and have implications for surveillance efforts, AIV in marine environments, and the roles of sea ducks and other long-lived waterfowl in avian influenza ecology.
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: J Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Franson
authors.affiliation: Environment Canada, Science & Technology Branch, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B4.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soos
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dusek
authors.affiliation: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bangor, ME, United States of America, 04401.
authors.forename: R Bradford
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: Sean W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Nashold
authors.affiliation: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, United States of America, 53711.
authors.forename: Joshua L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: TeSlaa
authors.affiliation: University of Iceland, Snæfellsnes Research Centre, Stykkishólmur, Iceland 245.
authors.forename: Jón Eínar
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jónsson
authors.affiliation: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America, 30602.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B4.
authors.forename: Naomi Jane
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Harms
authors.affiliation: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America, 30602.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D004463:Ecology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*