IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France.
THESEO France, LanXess Biosecurity, LanXess Group, Laval, France.
Emerg Microbes Infect. 2023 Dec;12(2):2272644. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2272644. Epub 2023 Nov 3.
Immature feathers are known replication sites for high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in poultry. However, it is unclear whether feathers play an active role in viral transmission. This study aims to investigate the contribution of the feather epithelium to the dissemination of clade 2.3.4.4b goose/Guangdong/1996 lineage H5 HPAIVs in the environment, based on natural and experimental infections of domestic mule and Muscovy ducks. During the 2016-2022 outbreaks, H5 HPAIVs exhibited persistent and marked feather epitheliotropism in naturally infected commercial ducks. Infection of the feather epithelium resulted in epithelial necrosis and disruption, as well as the production and environmental shedding of infectious virions. Viral and feather antigens colocalized in dust samples obtained from poultry barns housing naturally infected birds. In summary, the feather epithelium contributes to viral replication, and it is a likely source of environmental infectious material. This underestimated excretion route could greatly impact the ecology of HPAIVs, facilitating airborne and preening-related infections within a flock, and promoting prolonged viral infectivity and long-distance viral transmission between poultry farms.
不成熟的羽毛是家禽中高致病性禽流感病毒(HPAIV)的已知复制部位。然而,羽毛是否在病毒传播中发挥积极作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨羽毛上皮在环境中传播 2.3.4.4b 分支鹅/广东/1996 系 H5 高致病性禽流感病毒中的作用,该病毒基于对家养骡鸭和麝香鸭的自然和实验感染。在 2016 年至 2022 年的暴发期间,H5 高致病性禽流感病毒在自然感染的商业鸭中表现出持续且明显的羽毛上皮嗜性。羽毛上皮感染导致上皮坏死和破坏,以及传染性病毒粒子的产生和环境脱落。病毒和羽毛抗原在从饲养自然感染鸟类的禽舍中获得的灰尘样本中共同定位。总之,羽毛上皮有助于病毒复制,并且是环境传染性物质的可能来源。这种被低估的排泄途径可能会极大地影响 HPAIV 的生态学,在禽群中促进空气传播和梳理相关感染,并促进家禽养殖场之间病毒的长期传染性和长途传播。