BACKGROUND: Pigs are considered to be intermediate hosts for the transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) between birds and humans, but the transmissibility of AIVs among pigs and from pigs to other mammals remains largely unexplored. METHODS: In an initial study, we confirmed the replication potential of various low-pathogenic AIVs in pigs and ferrets, which we used as a model for humans. We then examined the transmissibility of 6 selected low-pathogenic AIVs among pigs (by direct contact) and from pigs to ferrets (by air contact). RESULTS: Although H1N1 and H3N2 swine influenza viruses spread readily from inoculated pigs to contact pigs and ferrets, evidence for AIV transmission was extremely rare. The fact that infected pigs shed lower amounts of AIVs than of swine influenza viruses may contribute to the reduced transmissibility of AIVs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that swine-adapted influenza viruses spread readily among pigs and from pigs to other susceptible mammalians and support the notion that AIVs undergo genetic adaptation to efficiently cross the species barrier. Our transmission models hold potential to study the factors that lead to the generation of pandemic influenza viruses.
BACKGROUND:Pigs are considered to be intermediate hosts for the transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) between birds and humans, but the transmissibility of AIVs among pigs and from pigs to other mammals remains largely unexplored. METHODS: In an initial study, we confirmed the replication potential of various low-pathogenic AIVs in pigs and ferrets, which we used as a model for humans. We then examined the transmissibility of 6 selected low-pathogenic AIVs among pigs (by direct contact) and from pigs to ferrets (by air contact). RESULTS: Although H1N1 and H3N2swine influenza viruses spread readily from inoculated pigs to contact pigs and ferrets, evidence for AIV transmission was extremely rare. The fact that infected pigs shed lower amounts of AIVs than of swine influenza viruses may contribute to the reduced transmissibility of AIVs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that swine-adapted influenza viruses spread readily among pigs and from pigs to other susceptible mammalians and support the notion that AIVs undergo genetic adaptation to efficiently cross the species barrier. Our transmission models hold potential to study the factors that lead to the generation of pandemic influenza viruses.
Authors: Olga Munoz; Marco De Nardi; Karen van der Meulen; Kristien van Reeth; Marion Koopmans; Kate Harris; Sophie von Dobschuetz; Gudrun Freidl; Adam Meijer; Andrew Breed; Andrew Hill; Rowena Kosmider; Jill Banks; Katharina D C Stärk; Barbara Wieland; Kim Stevens; Sylvie van der Werf; Vincent Enouf; Gwenaelle Dauphin; William Dundon; Giovanni Cattoli; Ilaria Capua Journal: Ecohealth Date: 2015-01-29 Impact factor: 3.184
Authors: Hailiang Sun; Fred L Cunningham; Jillian Harris; Yifei Xu; Li-Ping Long; Katie Hanson-Dorr; John A Baroch; Paul Fioranelli; Mark W Lutman; Tao Li; Kerri Pedersen; Brandon S Schmit; Jim Cooley; Xiaoxu Lin; Richard G Jarman; Thomas J DeLiberto; Xiu-Feng Wan Journal: J Gen Virol Date: 2015-06-25 Impact factor: 3.891
Authors: Elizabeth Bailey; Li-Ping Long; Nan Zhao; Jeffrey S Hall; John A Baroch; Jacqueline Nolting; Lucy Senter; Frederick L Cunningham; G Todd Pharr; Larry Hanson; Richard Slemons; Thomas J DeLiberto; Xiu-Feng Wan Journal: Avian Dis Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 1.577
Authors: Jennifer Humberd Smith; Tamas Nagy; Elizabeth Driskell; Paula Brooks; S Mark Tompkins; Ralph A Tripp Journal: J Virol Date: 2011-05-18 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Olivier Moncorgé; Jason S Long; Anna V Cauldwell; Hongbo Zhou; Samantha J Lycett; Wendy S Barclay Journal: J Virol Date: 2012-10-17 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Louisa L Y Chan; Christine T H Bui; Chris K P Mok; Mandy M T Ng; John M Nicholls; J S Malik Peiris; Michael C W Chan; Renee W Y Chan Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2016-10-14 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Charles Balzli; Kelly Lager; Amy Vincent; Phillip Gauger; Susan Brockmeier; Laura Miller; Juergen A Richt; Wenjun Ma; David Suarez; David E Swayne Journal: Influenza Other Respir Viruses Date: 2016-04-05 Impact factor: 4.380