Munster VJ †, Wallensten A*, Olsen B*, Rimmelzwaan GF †, Osterhaus
ADME †, Fouchier RAM†
† Department of Virology and National Influenza Centre, Erasmus MC,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
* Research Institute for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology (RIZEE), Färjestaden,
Sweden
Wild birds are thought to form the influenza A virus reservoir in nature. In the past five years we have performed surveillance studies in wild birds primarily in The Netherlands and Sweden. Ducks, geese and gulls were our primary target based on previous analyses by others but additional bird species were also included, and our sample collection now includes 252 bird species. In ducks (~5400 tested), geese (~1500 tested) and gulls (~1600 tested) the prevalence of influenza A virus ranged from 0 to 60 percent, depending on bird species, location and season. The detection of avian influenza A viruses in other bird species (~7000 samples tested), including shorebirds, was rare. Most of the fifteen hemagglutinin subtypes and all nine neuraminidase subtypes described throughout the world to date were found in birds in Northern Europe in the past five years. In addition, we have identified a novel hemagglutinin subtype (H16) in black-headed gulls. Viruses of subtypes H5 and H7 were found frequently; these viruses are closely related to the H5 and H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses that have caused recent fowl plague outbreaks. The implications of these findings will be discussed.
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