Influenza A Viruses (IAV) in nature must overcome shifting transmission barriers caused by the mobility of their primary host, migratory wild birds, that change throughout the annual cycle. Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission that along with reassortment, allows IAV to achieve viral flow across successive seasons from summer to winter. Our study supports amplification of IAV during summer breeding seeded by overwintering virus persisting locally and virus introduced from a wide range of latitudes. As birds migrate from breeding sites to lower latitudes, they become involved in transmission networks with greater connectivity to other bird species, with interspecies transmission of reassortant viruses peaking during the winter. We propose that switching transmission dynamics may be a critical strategy for pathogens that infect mobile hosts inhabiting regions with strong seasonality.
Avian influenzabiological rhythmsbird migrationhost contact structureinfluenza A virusmigratory cycleseasonalitytransmission networksviral flowzoonotic diseaseAnimal MigrationAnimals, WildAnimalsAnseriformesInfluenza A virusInfluenza in BirdsNorth AmericaRNA, Viral
Structured evidence records
Evidence records
5 total
Cross Species Transmission1 records
Cross Species TransmissionExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Influenza A virus was transmitted between different wild bird species in North America, with interspecific transmission peaking in winter.
Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission that along with reassortment, allows IAV to achieve viral flow across successive seasons from summer to winter.
Method
phylogenetic network analysis
Study design
phylogenetic analysis
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
North America
Genomic Evolution1 records
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.80
Key finding
Phylogenetic network analysis of influenza A virus sequences from wild birds revealed seasonal shifts in transmission and reassortment facilitating viral flow between bird species.
Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission that along with reassortment, allows IAV to achieve viral flow across successive seasons from summer to winter.
Genes or proteins
RNA, Viral
Analysis methods
phylogenetic network analysis
Recombination Or Reassortment1 records
Recombination Or ReassortmentExtraction confidence 0.85
Key finding
Reassortment among influenza A viruses in North American wild birds contributed to interspecies transmission and seasonal viral flow during bird migration.
Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission that along with reassortment, allows IAV to achieve viral flow across successive seasons from summer to winter. ... with interspecies transmission of reassortant viruses peaking during the winter.
Event type
reassortment
Reservoir Ecology1 records
Reservoir EcologyExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Influenza A virus circulating in North American wild birds is amplified during summer breeding and persists locally over winter, influenced by migration and seasonal ecological dynamics.
Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission that along with reassortment, allows IAV to achieve viral flow across successive seasons from summer to winter. Our study supports amplification of IAV during summer breeding seeded by overwintering virus persisting locally and virus introduced from a wide range of latitudes.
Method
phylogenetic network analysis
Geographic raw
North America
Zoonotic Surveillance1 records
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Phylogenetic surveillance of influenza A viruses from North American wild birds over multiple seasons revealed intraspecific and interspecific transmission dynamics.
Using a phylogenetic network of viral sequences from North American wild birds (2008-2011) we demonstrate a shift from intraspecific to interspecific transmission.
