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Mounting evidence for the presence of influenza A virus in the avifauna of the Antarctic region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2006

Anders Wallensten ,
Vincent J. Munster ,
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus ,
Jonas Waldenström ,
Jonas Bonnedahl ,
Tina Broman ,
Ron A.M. Fouchier  and
Björn Olsen
Anders Wallensten
Affiliation:
Smedby Health Center, Kalmar County Council, SE-39471 Kalmar, Sweden Division of Virology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine (IMK) Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
Vincent J. Munster
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jonas Waldenström
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Kalmar University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
Jonas Bonnedahl
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Tina Broman
Affiliation:
Department of NBC Analysis, Swedish Defence Research Agency, NBC Defence, SE-901 82 Umeå, Sweden
Ron A.M. Fouchier
Affiliation:
Department of Virology and National Influenza Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Björn Olsen
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, Kalmar University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
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Abstract

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Penguin blood samples collected at Bird Island, sub-Antarctic South Georgia, and faecal samples taken from penguins at several localities along the Antarctic Peninsula were analysed in order to investigate if influenza A virus is present in penguin populations in the South Atlantic Antarctic region. Serology was performed on the blood samples while the faecal samples were screened by a RT-PCR method directed at the matrix protein gene for determining the presence of influenza A virus. All faecal samples were negative by PCR, but the blood samples gave serologic indications that influenza A virus is present amongst these penguin species, confirming previous studies, although the virus has still not been isolated from any bird in the Antarctic region.

Keywords

avian influenzaRT-PCRserologysub-Antarctica
Type
LIFE SCIENCES
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , September 2006 , pp. 353 - 356
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2006