Review article

Influenza in Birds and Other Animals

Vladimir Savić ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut

Abstract

Although influenza A viruses have been isolated from a variety of birds and mammals, their natural hosts include wild waterfowl, gulls and related birds. Other species which are infected with influenza A viruses, particularly chickens, turkeys, swine, horses, and humans, are considered aberrant hosts. The vast majority of influenza A viruses are fully adapted to water birds in which the infection causes no symptoms and the viruses in these hosts are in evolutionary stasis. On the other hand, a rapid evolution in aberrant hosts is attributed to selection pressure due to the viral adaptation to a new host. Such adaptation can result in high virulence for the new host, and sometimes even for other species.

Keywords

influenza A; virus; birds; mammals

Hrčak ID:

76431

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76431

Publication date:

3.1.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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