Canada Geese Susceptible to H5N1 Virus

H5N1 causes severe morbidity with pronounced neurologic signs in juvenile geese; previous infection with low-pathogenic H5 viruses partially protects against disease.

Wild water birds are the natural reservoir hosts for influenza A viruses. In Asia and Europe, infected migratory birds have been implicated as one means of spreading H5N1.

In North America, Canada geese are abundant and widespread, often congregating in periurban and periagricultural settings. Investigators recently captured 22 of these birds — 11 juveniles and 11 adults — and examined their susceptibility to infection with H5N1. At the time of capture, all juvenile and 9 of 11 adult geese tested negative for influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) antibodies. In a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, the researchers inoculated 20 of the geese with H5N1 (A/chicken/Vietnam/14/2005).

A “preexposure” group (5 juveniles; 5 adults) had previously been inocu…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Canada Geese Susceptible to H5N1 Virus

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Reviewing Author