Widespread avian bornavirus infection in mute swans in the Northeast United States

Abstract

Avian bornavirus (ABV) matrix (M) genes were detected by RT-PCR on brain tissue obtained from 192 mute swans harvested from several Northeastern states. A RT-PCR product was detected in 45 samples. Sequencing of the PCR products confirmed the presence of ABV belonging to the ‘goose’ genotype. The prevalence of positive samples ranged from 28% in Michigan to 0% in northern New York State. Two Rhode Island isolates were cultured. Their M, N, and X-P gene sequences closely matched recently published sequences from Canada geese.

Keywords:

• avian bornavirus
• proventricular dilatation disease
• reverse transcription
• polymerase chain reaction
• mute swans

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the wildlife disease biologists with Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Disease Program, the many other Wildlife Services staff that contributed assistance in the field, and the Wildlife Services Wild Bird Tissue Archive for samples from the influenza swab collection. This study was supported by the Richard M Schubot endowment at Texas A&M University.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.