Research reports on influenza from J.S. Hall and colleagues provide new insights
March 17th, 2009
2009 MAR 17 -- "Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are common, widely distributed animals that frequently come into contact with wild waterfowl, agricultural operations, and humans. Serosurveys showed that raccoons are exposed to avian influenza virus," scientists in the United States report.
"We found antibodies to a variety of influenza virus subtypes (H10N7, H4N6, H4N2, H3, and H1) with wide geographic variation in seroprevalence. Experimental infection studies showed that raccoons become infected with avian and human influenza A viruses, shed and transmit virus to virus-free animals, and seroconvert. Analyses of cellular receptors showed that raccoons have avian and human type receptors with a similar distribution as found in human respiratory tracts. The potential exists for co-infection of multiple subtypes of influenza virus with genetic reassortment and creation of novel strains of influenza virus," wrote J.S. Hall and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "Experimental and field data indicate that raccoons may play an important role in influenza disease ecology and pose risks to agriculture and human health."
Hall and colleagues published their study in Emerging Infectious Diseases (Influenza Infection in Wild Raccoons. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2008;14(12):1842-1848).
For additional information, contact J.S. Hall, US Geol Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006 Schroeder Rd., Madison, WI 53711, USA.
The publisher's contact information for the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases is: Centers Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Keywords: United States, Madison, Avian Flu, Avian Influenza, Avian Influenza Virus, Bird Flu, Human Influenza, Viral Research, Virology.
This article was prepared by Health Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Health Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.
