Assessing the Role of Seabirds in the Ecology of Influenza A Viruses.
Wild waterbirds, specifically waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds, are recognized as the primordial reservoir of influenza A viruses (IAVs). However, the role of seabirds, an abundant, diverse, and globally distributed group of birds, in the perpetuation and transmission of IAVs is less clear. Here we summarize published and publicly available data for influenza viruses in seabirds, which for the purposes of this study are defined as birds that exhibit a largely or exclusively pelagic lifestyle and exclude waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds, and we review this collective dataset to assess the role of seabirds in the influenza A ecology. Since 1961, more than 40,000 samples have been collected worldwide from the seabirds considered here and screened, using a variety of techniques, for evidence of active or past IAV infection. From these data, the overall prevalence of active infection has been estimated to be very low; however, serological data provide evidence that some seabird species are more frequently exposed to IAVs. Sequence data for viruses from seabirds are limited, except for murres (common murre, Uria aalge, and thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia; family Alcidae) for which there are full or partial genome sequences available for more than 80 viruses. Characterization of these viruses suggests that murres are infected with Group 1 hemagglutinin subtype viruses more frequently as compared to Group 2 and also indicates that these northern, circumpolar birds are frequently infected by intercontinental reassortant viruses. Greater temporal and spatial sampling and characterization of additional viruses are required to better understand the role of seabirds in global IAV dynamics.
A Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
Andrew S
AS
Lang
B Université de La Réunion, UMR PIMIT (Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical), INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, Saint Denis, Reunion Island.
Camille
C
Lebarbenchon
C U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508.
Andrew M
AM
Ramey
D Wildlife Research Division, Environment Canada, 6 Bruce St., Mount Pearl, NL, A1N 4T3, Canada.
Gregory J
GJ
Robertson
E Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
Jonas
J
Waldenström
E Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
Michelle
M
Wille
D000818:Animals; D046090:Anseriformes / Q000821:virology*; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000821:virology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*
influenza; marine; murre; penguin; shearwater; tern; virus ecology