Detection of an influenza virus in wild waterbirds migrating through Slovakia in autumn 2004.

摘要

This study was conducted to survey the occurrence of influenzavirus in water birds in Slovakia. Cloacal and crop swabs were collected from the 96 captured birds at several weekly intervals. The specimens were taken from the wild water birds migrating through the ponds of eastern Slovakia. The extracted RNA was subjected to RT-PCR. The virus was detected by RT-PCR in specimens from two bird species, common snipe, Gallinago gallinago, and long-eared owl, (Asio otus). The M genes of the two isolates of influenza A virus were closely related to H7 subtype. This finding suggests that these H7 strains might not have a strong pandemic potential when compared with the H5 strain. On the other hand, the strains that are less pathogenic for poultry have a greater opportunity to become widespread since they permit their hosts to survive unharmed. Therefore, it is very important to continue the surveillance and characterization of influenzavirus strains in birds in the Slovakian territory. Early detection of low pathogenic strains in birds is a key factor to prevent the development of high pathogenic strains and severe forms of the disease..