2023-10-26 10:36:52
Toulouse researchers have discovered that duck feathers infected with avian influenza are also a vector for the spread of the avian flu virus. Which would explain its very great capacity for propagation.
In a study recently published in the international journal “Emerging Microbes & Infections”, Toulouse researchers from ENVT/INRAE (national veterinary school of Toulouse/National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment) report of a discovery that surprised the international community in charge of research on highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI).
This involves long-term work on the tropism of the virus in order to determine how it is disseminated in the environment.
After studying biological samples from the field during the last epizootics of 2021 and 2022 but also data obtained from experimental infections (with the viruses of 2016-2017) in collaboration with the animal health research center (CRESA) of Barcelona , the researchers discovered that in addition to being present in the pulp of the feather (part inserted into the skin), a fact already known for some time, the virus also existed in the outer part of the pen.
“We realized that we had lots of viruses in the keratin scales, in these feather debris (to take an image, it’s a bit like hair dandruff). We didn’t expect find virus there because it is not a very vascularized place.”
Jean-Luc Guérin – Holder of the chair of biosecurity and avian health at ENVT/INRAE
FTV
This discovery could explain the difficulties in controlling the spread of the virus in ducks. This would only exist in aquatic birds and marginally in gallinaceans.
“We realize that this is a route of diffusion of the virus in the environment which is undoubtedly not negligible. Especially since by this route, the virus is distributed in a form protected by a keratin film , so it is in a protective case”
Before putting forward what is still only a working hypothesis: “It is possible that the virus excreted by this route is much more resistant in the environment than by the respiratory or digestive route. This is a route of dissemination of the virus that we had not perceived“.
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If verified, this hypothesis could lead to new ways of understanding epizootics.
“We collectively missed this and we think that from a point of view of diffusion and the risk of maintaining the virus in the environment, it is undoubtedly not negligible. This may have consequences in terms of recommendations for cleaning infections.“
A new illustration of the complexity of controlling avian flu infection which could lead to an adaptation of infection cleaning measures.
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