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Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks

Date:
August 22, 2010
Source:
American Society for Microbiology
Summary:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) may persist on feathers fallen from the bodies of infected domestic ducks and contribute to environmental contamination.
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Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) may persist on feathers fallen from the bodies of infected domestic ducks and contribute to environmental contamination. Researchers from the National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan report their findings in the August 2010 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Since the emergence of Asian avian influenza virus in 1997, it has spread to Europe, the Middle East and Africa causing significant mortality and economic loss in the poultry industry. Although the virus is mainly found in waterfowl and transmitted through fecal contamination in water, humans as well as other mammalian species have contracted the virus through close contact with infected birds.

A prior study showed that H5N1 could replicate in the skin cells of feathers and further suggested that those that drop off the body could potentially contaminate the environment. Here, researchers evaluated the environmental risk posed by contaminated feathers by inoculating domestic ducks with H5N1, collecting feathers, feces and drinking water three days following, and then storing them at 39 degrees and 68 degrees Fahrenheit for 360 days. Results showed that H5N1 persisted the longest in feathers at both temperatures.

"These results indicate that feathers detached from domestic ducks infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) can be a source of environmental contamination and may function as fomites with high viral loads in the environment," say the researchers.


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Materials provided by American Society for Microbiology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Yamamoto et al. Persistence of Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Feathers Detached from Bodies of Infected Domestic Ducks. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010; 76 (16): 5496 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.00563-10

Cite This Page:

American Society for Microbiology. "Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 August 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100820115052.htm>.
American Society for Microbiology. (2010, August 22). Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100820115052.htm
American Society for Microbiology. "Avian influenza virus may persist on feathers fallen from domestic ducks." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100820115052.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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