A total of 1991 environmental samples of fresh avian feces and urine from several aquatic bird species in a coastal area of Northeast Germany were examined for the presence of avian influenza viruses (AIV). By real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, specific for an M gene of influenza A viruses, none of 659 duck samples and only 11 (0.9%) of 1,268 geese and swan samples tested positive. Two of these were identified as H5N2 viruses of low pathogenic-ity. Conventional cloacal and oropharyngeal swab samples (n=1,402) collected in an adjacent coastal region in Northeast Germany from comparable species of captured or hunted birds, yielded a similar detection rate (3/901; 0.4%) for AIV-specific RNA in geese and swans, but a higher rate (4/309; 1%) for ducks. No virus isolates were obtained from either set of samples. Collection of environmental avian samples was simple and cost effective and also allowed us to regulate sample sizes over time. A species assignment of these samples was possible, provided that close presampling observation of birds at the sampling sites was secured. Environmental sampling to monitor AIV in wild bird populations may be a valid alternative to the more-invasive and capture-dependent methods based on cloacal sampling.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS|
April 01 2009
Active Surveillance for Avian Influenza Virus Infection in Wild Birds by Analysis of Avian Fecal Samples from the Environment
G. Pannwitz;
G. Pannwitz
1 District Food and Veterinary Office, Ostvorpommern, Bluthsluster Str. 5b, D-17389, Anklam, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
C. Wolf;
C. Wolf
2 State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety, and Fishery, Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania, Department for Diagnostic Investigation of Epizootics, Thierfelderstraße 18, D-18059, Rostock, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
T. Harder
T. Harder
4
3 O.I.E. and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Institute for Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler Institute, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
4 Corresponding author (email: [email protected])
Search for other works by this author on:
J Wildl Dis (2009) 45 (2): 512–518.
Article history
Received:
June 16 2008
Citation
G. Pannwitz, C. Wolf, T. Harder; Active Surveillance for Avian Influenza Virus Infection in Wild Birds by Analysis of Avian Fecal Samples from the Environment. J Wildl Dis 1 April 2009; 45 (2): 512–518. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-45.2.512
Download citation file:
Citing articles via
Sensitivity of Methods to Determine Presence of Baylisascaris procyonis Eggs in Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Feces
L. Kristen Page, Andrew Loiacono, Sydney Edmunds, Benjamin Black, Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam, Chris Anchor
Evaluation of Two Serologic Tests for Rapid Detection of Anti-Leptospira Antibodies in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)
Mattison Peters, Cara L. Field, Lisabet M. Hortensius, Jennifer Soper, Julia Burco, Terra R. Kelly, K. C. Prager
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1 in Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) of the Chesapeake Bay, USA
Johanna Harvey, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Rebecca L. Poulson, Deborah L. Carter, Cindy P. Driscoll, Peter C. McGowan, Carl R. Callahan, Amy W. O’Donnell, Jennifer M. Mullinax, David E. Stallknecht, Diann J. Prosser
Evaluation of RT-QuIC Diagnostic Performance for Chronic Wasting Disease Detection Using Elk (Cervus canadensis) Ear Punches
Damani N. Bryant, Roxanne J. Larsen, Kristin J. Bondo, Andrew S. Norton, Andrew J. Lindbloom, Steven L. Griffin, Peter A. Larsen, Tiffany M. Wolf, Stuart S. Lichtenberg
Serologic Evidence of Exposure to Leishmania infantum in Captive and Free-Ranging European Bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland, 2017–23
Anna Didkowska, Víctor Martín-Santander, Marlena Wojciechowska, Wanda Olech, Krzysztof Anusz, Antonio Fernández, Janine E. Davies, Marta Ruíz de Arcaute, Delia Lacasta, Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Diana Marteles