Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile
The Lluta River is the northernmost coastal wetland in Chile, representing a unique ecosystem and an important source of water in the extremely arid Atacama Desert. During peak season, the wetland is home to more than 150 species of wild birds and is the first stopover point for many migratory speci...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1241 |
| _version_ | 1797592360332296192 |
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| author | Soledad Ruiz Pablo Galdames Cecilia Baumberger Maria Antonieta Gonzalez Camila Rojas Cristobal Oyarzun Katherinne Orozco Cristian Mattar Pamela Freiden Bridgette Sharp Stacey Schultz-Cherry Christopher Hamilton-West Pedro Jimenez-Bluhm |
| author_facet | Soledad Ruiz Pablo Galdames Cecilia Baumberger Maria Antonieta Gonzalez Camila Rojas Cristobal Oyarzun Katherinne Orozco Cristian Mattar Pamela Freiden Bridgette Sharp Stacey Schultz-Cherry Christopher Hamilton-West Pedro Jimenez-Bluhm |
| author_sort | Soledad Ruiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Lluta River is the northernmost coastal wetland in Chile, representing a unique ecosystem and an important source of water in the extremely arid Atacama Desert. During peak season, the wetland is home to more than 150 species of wild birds and is the first stopover point for many migratory species that arrive in the country along the Pacific migratory route, thereby representing a priority site for avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in Chile. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in the Lluta River wetland, identify subtype diversity, and evaluate ecological and environmental factors that drive the prevalence at the study site. The wetland was studied and sampled from September 2015 to October 2020. In each visit, fresh fecal samples of wild birds were collected for IAV detection by real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, a count of wild birds present at the site was performed and environmental variables, such as temperature, rainfall, vegetation coverage (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI), and water body size were determined. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was built to assess the association between AIV prevalence and explanatory variables. Influenza positive samples were sequenced, and the host species was determined by barcoding. Of the 4349 samples screened during the study period, overall prevalence in the wetland was 2.07% (95% CI: 1.68 to 2.55) and monthly prevalence of AIV ranged widely from 0% to 8.6%. Several hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were identified, and 10 viruses were isolated and sequenced, including low pathogenic H5, H7, and H9 strains. In addition, several reservoir species were recognized (both migratory and resident birds), including the newly identified host Chilean flamingo (<i>Phoenicopterus chilensis</i>). Regarding environmental variables, prevalence of AIV was positively associated with NDVI (OR = 3.65, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and with the abundance of migratory birds (OR = 3.57, <i>p</i> < 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of the Lluta wetland as a gateway to Chile for viruses that come from the Northern Hemisphere and contribute to the understanding of AIV ecological drivers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ab8d3b9f1184bf2854f28cd93fbdd1b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ab8d3b9f1184bf2854f28cd93fbdd1b2023-11-18T13:00:59ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152023-05-01156124110.3390/v15061241Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern ChileSoledad Ruiz0Pablo Galdames1Cecilia Baumberger2Maria Antonieta Gonzalez3Camila Rojas4Cristobal Oyarzun5Katherinne Orozco6Cristian Mattar7Pamela Freiden8Bridgette Sharp9Stacey Schultz-Cherry10Christopher Hamilton-West11Pedro Jimenez-Bluhm12Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileLaboratory for Analysis of the Biosphere (LAB), Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileDepartment of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USADepartment of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USADepartment of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USADepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, ChileEscuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, ChileThe Lluta River is the northernmost coastal wetland in Chile, representing a unique ecosystem and an important source of water in the extremely arid Atacama Desert. During peak season, the wetland is home to more than 150 species of wild birds and is the first stopover point for many migratory species that arrive in the country along the Pacific migratory route, thereby representing a priority site for avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in Chile. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of influenza A virus (IAV) in the Lluta River wetland, identify subtype diversity, and evaluate ecological and environmental factors that drive the prevalence at the study site. The wetland was studied and sampled from September 2015 to October 2020. In each visit, fresh fecal samples of wild birds were collected for IAV detection by real-time RT-PCR. Furthermore, a count of wild birds present at the site was performed and environmental variables, such as temperature, rainfall, vegetation coverage (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index—NDVI), and water body size were determined. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was built to assess the association between AIV prevalence and explanatory variables. Influenza positive samples were sequenced, and the host species was determined by barcoding. Of the 4349 samples screened during the study period, overall prevalence in the wetland was 2.07% (95% CI: 1.68 to 2.55) and monthly prevalence of AIV ranged widely from 0% to 8.6%. Several hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes were identified, and 10 viruses were isolated and sequenced, including low pathogenic H5, H7, and H9 strains. In addition, several reservoir species were recognized (both migratory and resident birds), including the newly identified host Chilean flamingo (<i>Phoenicopterus chilensis</i>). Regarding environmental variables, prevalence of AIV was positively associated with NDVI (OR = 3.65, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and with the abundance of migratory birds (OR = 3.57, <i>p</i> < 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of the Lluta wetland as a gateway to Chile for viruses that come from the Northern Hemisphere and contribute to the understanding of AIV ecological drivers.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1241avian influenzainfluenza AChileremote sensingNormalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) |
| spellingShingle | Soledad Ruiz Pablo Galdames Cecilia Baumberger Maria Antonieta Gonzalez Camila Rojas Cristobal Oyarzun Katherinne Orozco Cristian Mattar Pamela Freiden Bridgette Sharp Stacey Schultz-Cherry Christopher Hamilton-West Pedro Jimenez-Bluhm Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile Viruses avian influenza influenza A Chile remote sensing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) |
| title | Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile |
| title_full | Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile |
| title_fullStr | Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile |
| title_short | Remote Sensing and Ecological Variables Related to Influenza A Prevalence and Subtype Diversity in Wild Birds in the Lluta Wetland of Northern Chile |
| title_sort | remote sensing and ecological variables related to influenza a prevalence and subtype diversity in wild birds in the lluta wetland of northern chile |
| topic | avian influenza influenza A Chile remote sensing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/6/1241 |
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