Publikationsdatenbank

Diet may drive influenza A virus exposure in African mammals (2020)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Soilemetzidou, Eirini-Sanatana

De Bruin, Erwin

Franz, Mathias

Aschenborn, Ortwin H. K.

Rimmelzwaan, Guus F.

Van Beek, Ruud

Koopmans, Marion

Greenwood, Alex D. (WE 5)

Czirják, Gábor Á.

Quelle

The Journal of infectious diseases

Bandzählung: 221

Heftzählung: 2

Seiten: 175 – 182

ISSN: 0022-1899

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiz032/5369376

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz032

Pubmed: 30838397

Kontakt

Institut für Virologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 51833
virologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) represent repeatedly emerging pathogens with near worldwide distribution and an unclear nonavian-host spectrum. While the natural hosts for IAV are among waterfowl species, certain mammals can be productively infected. Southern Africa is home to diverse avian and mammalian fauna for which almost no information exists on IAV dynamics.

We evaluated 111 serum samples from 14 mammalian species from Namibia for the presence of IAV-specific antibodies and tested whether host phylogeny, sociality, or diet influence viral prevalence and diversity.

Free-ranging African mammals are exposed to diverse IAV subtypes. Herbivores developed antibodies against 3 different hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes, at low prevalence, while carnivores showed a higher prevalence and diversity of HA-specific antibody responses against 11 different subtypes. Host phylogeny and sociality were not significantly associated with HA antibody prevalence or subtype diversity. Both seroprevalence and HA diversity were significantly increased in carnivores regularly feeding on birds.

The risk of infection and transmission may be driven by diet and ecological factors that increase contact with migratory and resident waterfowl. Consequently, wild mammals, particularly those that specialize on hunting and scavenging birds, could play an important but overlooked role in influenza epizootics.