Antibodies to Influenza A Viruses in Gulls at Delaware Bay, USA.
Gulls are the known reservoir for H13 and H16 influenza A viruses (IAV) but also host a diversity of other IAV subtypes. Gulls also share habitats with both ducks and shorebirds, increasing the potential for cross-species IAV transmission. We serologically tested laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) collected at Delaware Bay during May when they were in direct contact with IAV-infected shorebirds; both species feed on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs on beaches during this month. From 2010 to 2014, antibody prevalence as determined by competitive blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ranged from 25%-72%. Antibodies to H13 and H16 were detected by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests in 12% and 24% of tested gulls, respectively. Results from virus microneutralization (MN) tests for antibodies to H1-H12, H14, and H15 varied among years but the highest prevalence of neutralizing antibodies was detected against H1 (24%), H5 (25%), H6 (35%), H9 (33%), and H11 (42%) IAV. The subtype diversity identified by serology in gulls was dominated by Group 1 HA subtypes and only partially reflected the diversity of IAV subtypes isolated from shorebirds.
A Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Kayla
K
Guinn
A Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Alinde
A
Fojtik
A Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Nick
N
Davis-Fields
A Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
Rebecca L
RL
Poulson
B St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678.
Scott
S
Krauss
B St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678.
Robert G
RG
Webster
A Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.
David E
DE
Stallknecht
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D061006:Bays; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral
Leucophaeus atricilla microneutralization; antibodies; influenza A virus; laughing gull; serology