Young birds as well as certain species like house sparrows, mallard ducks and trumpeter swans are particularly susceptible to contracting avian influenza, researchers have found. Other species like Canada geese appear to be superspreaders. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viiruses, or HPAIV, have shown up in almost 10,000 wild birds, including 225 species. In a new study published in Wildlife Monographs, researchers set out to understand why avian influenza is showing up in more and more hosts, including migratory birds. They also wondered why transmission rates have been increasing. The team found that virus peaks have occurred at the same time young birds with only partially developed immune systems enter the population. In addition, they found it’s more likely that wild birds are spreading the virus to domestic birds—there are fewer occurrences of domestic poultry infecting wild populations. The researchers also looked at the species level, finding that migratory seagulls may be spreading avian influenza between continents. The team hopes their findings can inform efforts to mitigate HPAIV effects on birds in the future.
Read the study in Wildlife Monographs.
