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About the Authors:
J. Jeffrey Root
* E-mail: [email protected]
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Kevin T. Bentler
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Susan A. Shriner
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Nicole L. Mooers
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Kaci K. VanDalen
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Heather J. Sullivan
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Alan B. Franklin
Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
Introduction
Although much of the research associated with influenza A viruses has been focused on avian species, the potential role of wild mammals in the ecology of these viruses has received attention for only a limited number of species [1]–[3]. For example, raccoons (Procyon lotor) have been found exposed to AIVs in certain locations in the U.S. and elsewhere [1], [4]; however, the mechanism(s) associated with the exposures of raccoons to AIVs are unclear.
Overall, the precise route of exposure of mammals to avian influenza viruses (AIV) is not well-understood [5]. It has been suggested that cross-species transmission of AIV to mammals may occur via physical contact between mammals and avian reservoirs (e.g., through predation and scavenging), indirect contact with excreta from birds or virus-contaminated environments (e.g., through ingestion of contaminated water), or through aerosols [5]. However, some of these scenarios might be more likely for highly pathogenic (HP) AIV when compared to low pathogenic (LP) AIV [5]. LP AIV infections are typically thought to be more localized within individuals compared to those of HP AIV which are thought to be more widely disseminated throughout the bodies of infected animals (see [6] and citations therein). Recent work on the persistence of a HP AIV in chicken carcasses suggested that infected muscle tissue could potentially deliver infectious virus for up to three days post-mortem and certain other tissues...