Publication date: Feb 08, 2025
Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Europe have raised questions regarding the epidemiological role of commensal wild birds on free-range poultry farms. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV), avulaviruses, coronaviruses and Chlamydia sp. in commensal wild birds on a free-range duck farm in southwestern France and to evaluate possible transmission events at the wild‒domestic interface. From 2019 through 2021, a longitudinal study was conducted on wild birds, domestic ducks and their shared environment on farms. Commensal wild birds were captured and sampled for blood and swabs, and fresh feces from cattle egrets visiting the farm were collected. In parallel, domestic ducks were sampled, and environmental samples were collected. The presence of the four pathogens was tested by q(RT-)PCR, and the immunity of wild birds to AIV and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was tested by ELISA. Wild birds were found to shed AIV and Chlamydia only, with a low prevalence (
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | avian influenza |
| disease | IDO | role |
| disease | IDO | commensal |
| disease | IDO | blood |
| disease | MESH | Bird Diseases |
| disease | MESH | Chlamydia Infections |
| disease | MESH | Coronavirus Infections |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Influenza A virus |
| disease | MESH | Poultry Diseases |