Co-expression of sialic acid receptors compatible with avian and human influenza virus binding in emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) continue to threaten animal and human health with constant emergence of novel variants. While aquatic birds are a major reservoir of most IAVs, the role of other terrestrial birds in the evolution of IAVs is becoming increasingly evident. Since 2006, several reports of IAV isolations from emus have surfaced and avian influenza infection of emus can lead to the selection of mammalian like PB2-E627K and PB2-D701N mutants. However, the potential of emus to be co-infected with avian and mammalian IAVs is not yet understood. As a first step, we investigated sialic acid (SA) receptor distribution across major organs and body systems of emu and found a widespread co-expression of both SAα2,3Gal and SAα2,6Gal receptors in various tissues that are compatible with avian and human IAV binding. Our results suggest that emus could allow genetic recombination and hence play an important role in the evolution of IAVs.

Isolation of EEE virus from Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus and Culiseta melanura in coastal South Carolina.

A 1-year arbovirus study was conducted at The Wedge Plantation located in coastal South Carolina to determine the occurrence and level of arbovirus activity in mosquito species inhabiting the site. Mosquito species composition and temporal abundance were also determined. A total of 45,051 mosquitoes representing 27 species in 9 genera was collected and identified during 130 trap-nights between August, 1997, and July, 1998. The most abundant species was Culex salinarius (n = 20,954) followed by Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (n = 12,185). Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEE) was isolated from 2 pools collected in August, 1997; one pool of Oc. taeniorhynchus (minimum infection rate [MIR] = 0.6/1,000) and a second of Culiseta melanura (MIR = 3.8/1,000). This report represents the first record of an EEE isolation from Oc. taeniorhynchus and Cs. melanura in South Carolina.

Response to and efficacy of vaccination against eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in emus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate humoral immune responses of emus vaccinated with commercially available equine polyvalent or experimental monovalent eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus and western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus vaccines and to determine whether vaccinated emus were protected against challenge with EEE virus. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 25 emus. PROCEDURE: Birds were randomly assigned to groups (n = 5/group) and vaccinated with 1 of 2 commercially available polyvalent equine vaccines, a monovalent EEE virus vaccine, or a monovalent WEE virus vaccine or were not vaccinated. Neutralizing antibody responses against EEE and WEE viruses were examined at regular intervals for up to 9 months. All emus vaccinated with the equine vaccines and 2 unvaccinated control birds were challenged with EEE virus. An additional unvaccinated bird was housed with the control birds to assess the possibility of contact transmission. RESULTS: All 4 vaccines induced detectable neutralizing antibody titers, and all birds vaccinated with the equine vaccines were fully protected against an otherwise lethal dose of EEE virus. Unvaccinated challenged birds developed viremia (> 10(9) plaque-forming units/ml of blood) and shed virus in feces, oral secretions, and regurgitated material. The unvaccinated pen-mate became infected in the absence of mosquito vectors, presumably as a result of direct virus transmission between birds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that emus infected with EEE virus develop a high-titer viremia and suggest that they may serve as important virus reservoirs. Infected emus shed EEE virus in secretions and excretions, making them a direct hazard to pen-mates and attending humans. Commercially available polyvalent equine vaccines protect emus against EEE virus infection.

Evaluation of a competitive ELISA for detection of antibodies against avian influenza virus nucleoprotein.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA) employing a baculovirus-expressed recombinant nucleoprotein and a monoclonal antibody was developed for the detection of antibodies to type A influenza virus nucleoprotein. The performance of the C-ELISA was evaluated by testing 756 chickens, 1123 turkeys, 707 emus, and 1261 ostriches, for a total of 3847 serum samples. Relative to the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test, the C-ELISA had a sensitivity of 100% for all four species. The C-ELISA's sensitivity relative to the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test results was 100% for chicken, turkey, and emu and 96.2% for the ostrich serum samples. More than 90% of the AGID-negative/C-ELISA-positive serum samples were found positive by HI for at least one influenza serotype. The specificity of C-ELISA relative to AGID ranged from 85.5% to 99.8% for sera collected from these species. These results indicated that the C-ELISA was more sensitive and more specific than the AGID test and as sensitive and as specific as the HI test. The C-ELISA has the potential to replace the AGID test for screening sera from avian species, including ratites, for detection of antibodies to type A influenza virus.