Global Patterns of Influenza A Virus in Wild Birds

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 312; no. 5772; pp. 384 - 388
• Main Authors: Olsen, Björn, Munster, Vincent J, Wallensten, Anders, Waldenström, Jonas, Osterhaus, Albert D. M. E, Fouchier, Ron A. M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 21.04.2006; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal behavior; Animal Migration; Animals; Animals, Wild - physiology; Animals, Wild - virology; Aves; Avian flu; avian influenza; Aviculture; Biologi; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Sciences; bird diseases; Birds; Birds - physiology; Birds - virology; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; Disease Reservoirs; disease transmission; Ducks; Ecology; Ekologi; epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geese; Genetic Variation; H5N1 subtype influenza A virus; Influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - classification; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza A virus - isolation & purification; Influenza A virus - pathogenicity; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - pathogenicity; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Influenza in Birds - transmission; Influenza in Birds - virology; literature reviews; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Microbiology; migration behavior; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Orthomyxoviridae; Phylogeny; Poultry; Prevalence; Reassortant Viruses; Replicative cycle, interference, host-virus relations, pathogenicity, miscellaneous strains; Review; Seasonal migration; Virology; Viruses; Waterfowl; Wild birds; Asia; Europe; Fauna; Orthomyxoviridae; Ecology; Wild animal; Review; Epidemiology; Virus; Pathogenicity; Vertebrata; Influenzavirus A; Avian influenzavirus; Migratory; Transmission from animal to animal; Evolution; Genetics; Aves; Public health
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1122438

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype in Asia, which has subsequently spread to Russia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, has put increased focus on the role of wild birds in the persistence of influenza viruses. The ecology, epidemiology, genetics, and evolution of pathogens cannot be fully understood without taking into account the ecology of their hosts. Here, we review our current knowledge on global patterns of influenza virus infections in wild birds, discuss these patterns in the context of host ecology and in particular birds' behavior, and identify some important gaps in our current knowledge.