Background Individual heterogeneity in pathogen load can impact disease transmission dynamics; therefore, identifying intrinsic factors responsible for variation in pathogen load is necessary for determining which individuals are prone to be most infectious. Since low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) preferentially bind to alpha-2,3 sialic acid receptors (SAα2,3Gal) in the intestines and bursa of Fabricius in wild ducks ( Anas spp.), we investigated juvenile mallards ( Anas platyrhyncos ) and blue-winged teals ( Anas discors ) orally inoculated with A/northern pintail/California/44221-761/2006 (H5N9) and the virus titer relationship to percentage of SAα2,3Gal in the intestines and bursa. To evaluate the natural variation of free-ranging duck populations, birds were hatched and raised in captivity from eggs collected from nests of free-ranging birds in North Dakota, USA. Data generated from real time RT-PCR used to quantify virus titers in cloacal swabs, ileum tissue, and bursa of Fabricius tissue and lectin histochemistry used to quantify percentage of SAα2,3Gal was analyzed through a series of multiple linear regression and mixed models.
Results In mallards, we found high individual variation in virus titers significantly related to high variation of SAα2,3Gal in the ileum, with sex being a significant factor. In contrast to mallards, individual variation in teals was minimal and significant relationships between virus titers and SAα2,3Gal were not determined. Collectively, teals had both higher virus titers and a higher percentage of SAα2,3Gal compared to mallards, which may indicate a positive association between viral load and SAα2,3Gal. Statistically significant differences were observed between infected and control birds indicating that LPAIV infection may influence the percentage of SAα2,3Gal, or vice versa, but only in specific tissues.
Conclusions The results of this study provide quantitative evidence that SAα2,3Gal is related to LPAIV titers; thus, SAα2,3Gal should be considered a potential intrinsic factor of variation in LPAIV load.

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On 25 Aug, 2020
Received 12 Aug, 2020
On 18 Jul, 2020
Received 24 May, 2020
On 08 May, 2020
On 06 May, 2020
Received 06 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 05 May, 2020
On 30 Apr, 2020
On 29 Apr, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
Posted 21 Feb, 2020
On 24 Mar, 2020
Received 19 Mar, 2020
Received 19 Mar, 2020
Received 04 Mar, 2020
On 03 Mar, 2020
On 29 Feb, 2020
Invitations sent on 26 Feb, 2020
On 26 Feb, 2020
On 20 Feb, 2020
On 14 Feb, 2020
On 12 Feb, 2020
On 10 Feb, 2020
On 25 Aug, 2020
Received 12 Aug, 2020
On 18 Jul, 2020
Received 24 May, 2020
On 08 May, 2020
On 06 May, 2020
Received 06 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 05 May, 2020
On 30 Apr, 2020
On 29 Apr, 2020
On 19 Feb, 2020
Posted 21 Feb, 2020
On 24 Mar, 2020
Received 19 Mar, 2020
Received 19 Mar, 2020
Received 04 Mar, 2020
On 03 Mar, 2020
On 29 Feb, 2020
Invitations sent on 26 Feb, 2020
On 26 Feb, 2020
On 20 Feb, 2020
On 14 Feb, 2020
On 12 Feb, 2020
On 10 Feb, 2020
Background Individual heterogeneity in pathogen load can impact disease transmission dynamics; therefore, identifying intrinsic factors responsible for variation in pathogen load is necessary for determining which individuals are prone to be most infectious. Since low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) preferentially bind to alpha-2,3 sialic acid receptors (SAα2,3Gal) in the intestines and bursa of Fabricius in wild ducks ( Anas spp.), we investigated juvenile mallards ( Anas platyrhyncos ) and blue-winged teals ( Anas discors ) orally inoculated with A/northern pintail/California/44221-761/2006 (H5N9) and the virus titer relationship to percentage of SAα2,3Gal in the intestines and bursa. To evaluate the natural variation of free-ranging duck populations, birds were hatched and raised in captivity from eggs collected from nests of free-ranging birds in North Dakota, USA. Data generated from real time RT-PCR used to quantify virus titers in cloacal swabs, ileum tissue, and bursa of Fabricius tissue and lectin histochemistry used to quantify percentage of SAα2,3Gal was analyzed through a series of multiple linear regression and mixed models.
Results In mallards, we found high individual variation in virus titers significantly related to high variation of SAα2,3Gal in the ileum, with sex being a significant factor. In contrast to mallards, individual variation in teals was minimal and significant relationships between virus titers and SAα2,3Gal were not determined. Collectively, teals had both higher virus titers and a higher percentage of SAα2,3Gal compared to mallards, which may indicate a positive association between viral load and SAα2,3Gal. Statistically significant differences were observed between infected and control birds indicating that LPAIV infection may influence the percentage of SAα2,3Gal, or vice versa, but only in specific tissues.
Conclusions The results of this study provide quantitative evidence that SAα2,3Gal is related to LPAIV titers; thus, SAα2,3Gal should be considered a potential intrinsic factor of variation in LPAIV load.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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