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How does sampling methodology influence molecular detection and isolation success in influenza a virus field studies?

Latorre-Margalef, Neus LU ; Avril, Alexis ; Tolf, Conny ; Olsen, Björn and Waldenström, Jonas LU (2016) In Applied and Environmental Microbiology 82(4). p.1147-1153
Abstract

Wild waterfowl are important reservoir hosts for influenza A virus (IAV) and a potential source of spillover infections in other hosts, including poultry and swine. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, such as H5N1 and H5N8, and subsequent spread along migratory flyways prompted the initiation of several programs in Europe, North America, and Africa to monitor circulation of HPAI and low-pathogenicity precursor viruses (low-pathogenicity avian influenza [LPAI] viruses). Given the costs of maintaining such programs, it is essential to establish best practice for field methodologies to provide robust data for epidemiological interpretation. Here, we use long-term surveillance data from a single site to... (More)

Wild waterfowl are important reservoir hosts for influenza A virus (IAV) and a potential source of spillover infections in other hosts, including poultry and swine. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, such as H5N1 and H5N8, and subsequent spread along migratory flyways prompted the initiation of several programs in Europe, North America, and Africa to monitor circulation of HPAI and low-pathogenicity precursor viruses (low-pathogenicity avian influenza [LPAI] viruses). Given the costs of maintaining such programs, it is essential to establish best practice for field methodologies to provide robust data for epidemiological interpretation. Here, we use long-term surveillance data from a single site to evaluate the influence of a number of parameters on virus detection and isolation of LPAI viruses. A total of 26,586 samples (oropharyngeal, fecal, and cloacal) collected from wild mallards were screened by real-time PCR, and positive samples were subjected to isolation in embryonated chicken eggs. The LPAI virus detection rate was influenced by the sample type: cloacal/fecal samples showed a consistently higher detection rate and lower cycle threshold (Ct) value than oropharyngeal samples. Molecular detection was more sensitive than isolation, and virus isolation success was proportional to the number of RNA copies in the sample. Interestingly, for a given Ct value, the isolation success was lower in samples from adult birds than in those from juveniles. Comparing the results of specific real-time reverse transcriptase (RRT)-PCRs and of isolation, it was clear that coinfections were common in the investigated birds. The effects of sample type and detection methods warrant some caution in interpretation of the surveillance data.

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author
; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
volume
82
issue
4
pages
7 pages
publisher
American Society for Microbiology
external identifiers
  • pmid:26655759
  • scopus:84957916893
ISSN
0099-2240
DOI
10.1128/AEM.03283-15
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
512c5bfe-f897-4562-b420-e012ab466434
date added to LUP
2017-04-11 13:57:16
date last changed
2024-07-21 19:02:31
@article{512c5bfe-f897-4562-b420-e012ab466434,
  abstract     = {{<p>Wild waterfowl are important reservoir hosts for influenza A virus (IAV) and a potential source of spillover infections in other hosts, including poultry and swine. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses, such as H5N1 and H5N8, and subsequent spread along migratory flyways prompted the initiation of several programs in Europe, North America, and Africa to monitor circulation of HPAI and low-pathogenicity precursor viruses (low-pathogenicity avian influenza [LPAI] viruses). Given the costs of maintaining such programs, it is essential to establish best practice for field methodologies to provide robust data for epidemiological interpretation. Here, we use long-term surveillance data from a single site to evaluate the influence of a number of parameters on virus detection and isolation of LPAI viruses. A total of 26,586 samples (oropharyngeal, fecal, and cloacal) collected from wild mallards were screened by real-time PCR, and positive samples were subjected to isolation in embryonated chicken eggs. The LPAI virus detection rate was influenced by the sample type: cloacal/fecal samples showed a consistently higher detection rate and lower cycle threshold (C<sub>t</sub>) value than oropharyngeal samples. Molecular detection was more sensitive than isolation, and virus isolation success was proportional to the number of RNA copies in the sample. Interestingly, for a given C<sub>t</sub> value, the isolation success was lower in samples from adult birds than in those from juveniles. Comparing the results of specific real-time reverse transcriptase (RRT)-PCRs and of isolation, it was clear that coinfections were common in the investigated birds. The effects of sample type and detection methods warrant some caution in interpretation of the surveillance data.</p>}},
  author       = {{Latorre-Margalef, Neus and Avril, Alexis and Tolf, Conny and Olsen, Björn and Waldenström, Jonas}},
  issn         = {{0099-2240}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1147--1153}},
  publisher    = {{American Society for Microbiology}},
  series       = {{Applied and Environmental Microbiology}},
  title        = {{How does sampling methodology influence molecular detection and isolation success in influenza a virus field studies?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03283-15}},
  doi          = {{10.1128/AEM.03283-15}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}