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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field
Published on: August 2, 2011
Freshwater crabs could act as vehicles of spreading avian influenza virus
Weiwei Ma1, Chenyang Ren1, Qingbiao Hu1
1Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Liaoning Panjin Wetland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Rd, Shenyang, 110866, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Avian influenza virus (AIV) possessed significant risk to various animals and human health. Wild birds, especially waterfowls are considered to be the natural reservoir of AIVs. The ecology of AIV is still far from being fully understood. Freshwater crabs are nonnegligible biotic factor in AIV ecosystem. We analyzed the ability of freshwater crabs accumulate and spread AIV. We found that AIV remain infectious in water only for 36 h but persist in crabs for 48 h. Crabs could accumulate AIV in their gills and gastrointestinal tracts. The AIV titers in crabs were higher than the surrounding contaminated water. Crabs could accumulate AIV from contaminated water, carry the virus and spread to naïve crabs via surrounding water. Our study identified freshwater crab as a novel transmission vehicle in AIV ecosystem.
