The dataset contains the data used to examine how avian influenza infection in mallards and blue-winged teal is associated with the abundance and distribution of different types of sialic acid, the primary influenza receptor in vertebrates. Histochemistry and PCR were used to examine sialic acid and viral titer, respectively. Citation information for this dataset can be found in the EDG's Metadata Reference Information section and Data.gov's References section.

,Treatment groups of ducks were exposed to different virus doses (2, 4, 6 log10 50% egg infectious doses) and by different routes (contact or intrachoanal). The experimental setting was a laboratory with animal care as approved by the institutional animal care and use committee as appropriate for the species and age of bird. Data are the virus titers shed by the oral and cloacal route for individual mallard ducks exposed to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus by day post exposure. Samples were collected through 11 days post exposure. Virus titer equivalents were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Serological data are serum antibody titers to the challenge virus as determined by hemagglutination inhibition assay (reciprocal of the log2 dilution) determined with serum collected 10 or 11 days post exposure.,,

Intraspecific variation in host infectiousness affects disease transmission dynamics in human, domestic animal, and many wildlife host-pathogen systems including avian influenza virus (AIV); therefore, identifying host factors related to host infectiousness is important for understanding, controlling, and preventing future outbreaks. Toward this goal, we used RNA-seq data collected from low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV)-infected blue-winged teal (Spatula discors) to determine the association between host gene expression and intraspecific variation in cloacal viral shedding magnitude, the transmissible fraction of virus. We found that host genes were differentially expressed between LPAIV-infected and uninfected birds early in the infection, host genes were differentially expressed between shed level groups at one-, three-, and five-days post-infection, host gene expression was associated with LPAIV infection patterns over time, and genes of the innate immune system had a positive linear relationship with cloacal viral shedding. This study provides important insights into host gene expression patterns associated with intraspecific LPAIV shedding variation and can serve as a foundation for future studies focused on the identification of host factors that drive or permit the emergence of high viral shedding individuals. Citation information for this dataset can be found in Data.gov's References section.

,Data are the individual group values for oral and cloacal virus shedding and antibody titers for reach treatment group from: Mo et al., The pathogenicity and transmission of live bird market H2N2 avian influenza viruses in chickens, Pekin ducks, and guinea fowl. Vet Mic 260:109180, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109180,Methods: Six H2N2 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses from US LBMs were selected based on recency and to represent the different genotypes present in the live birds markets during the time period (i.e., the presence or absence of a NA stalk deletion): A/duck/PA/14-030488-5/2014 (Dk/PA/14), A/chicken/NY/16-032621-2/2016 (Ck/NY/16), A/chicken/CT/17-008911-4/2017 (Ck/CT/17), A/chicken/NY/18-002471-4/2018 (CK/NY/02471/18), A/chicken/NY/18-042097-3/2018 (Ck/NY/042097/18) and A/chicken/NY/19-012787-1/2019 (Ck/NY/19). Isolates were evaluated in White Leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus), guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Chickens and guinea fowl were challenged at 4 weeks of age and Pekin ducks were challenged at 2 weeks of age with 6log10 of virus by the intra-choanal route. “Contact” birds, which were hatch-mates of the inoculated birds, were co-housed with the inoculated birds 24hrs post inoculation to evaluate transmission. Viral loads in OP and CL swabs collected at 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days post inoculation were determined by quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RNA was extracted from swabs using the MagMAX96 Viral RNA Isolation Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) and the KingFisher Flex Magnetic Particle Processing System (Thermo Fisher Scientific), with an additional wash step to remove inhibitors (Das et al., 2009). The qRT‐PCR for AIV detection was conducted based on the standard USDA M gene AIV qRT‐PCR procedure (Spackman et al., 2002) using an Applied Biosystems® 7500 Fast Real‐Time PCR system (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Cycle threshold (Ct) values were determined by the 7500 Fast Software v2.3. For relative quantification, Ct values were converted to titer equivalents based on the standard curve method (Larionov et al., 2005). Values were established from ten-fold dilutions of the same titrated stock of the virus used to challenge the birds. The limit of detection was determined to be 0.8Log10 per reaction. Serological testing for antibodies to the virus utilized the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays using homologous antigens were performed to quantify antibody responses with serum collected from chickens, guinea fowl and Pekin ducks at 14 dpi based on the standard protocol (OIE, 2019). HI titers were reported as reciprocal log2 titers, and titers greater than 3 log2 (1:8) were considered positive.,,

This data set contains information regarding the sampling of avian influenza viruses from mallard ducks at locations in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska 2012-2015. Data pertaining to wild birds (mallards) sampled includes band numbers, age and sex, location and timing of sampling. Laboratory specific data is also included and used to identify presence and absence of avian influenza viruses either during active infection or previous exposure (serostatus).

This data set is comprised of four files related to the biosurveillance of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) in migratory waterfowl at 20 locations in the Delmarva Peninsula in fall/winter of 2013-2014. Two files contain data related to the species, age, and AIV prevalence for all birds sampled (1 data file, 1 definitions file). The other two files contain data related to the primers and standards used in bioassays for AIVs (1 data file, 1 definitions file).

This data release details the results of avian influenza sampling of dabbling ducks in Maine and Maryland. These data support an associated USGS publication.

Wild lesser scaup from the Chesapeake Bay, captured and implanted with satellite transmitters for a separate ecology study, were opportunistically sampled for avian influenza. These data detail the virological sampling results, obtained post release, which include a single positive for clade 2.3.4.4 H5N1 virus of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD) H5N1 lineage of highly pathogenic IAV. These data also include the movements of the infected bird from release until death as well as four conspecifics marked and released concurrent with the HPAI positive bird. These data support a paired publication.

Data set containing avian influenza sampling information for late summer and early autumn waterfowl and gulls within and around the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Alaska, 2011-2016. Data contains species, age, sex, collection data and location of sampled migratory birds. Laboratory specific data used to identify presence and absence of influenza A viruses (IAVs) from collected samples are included.

This data layer depicts the relative susceptibility of poultry to the transmission of Avian Influenza from wild birds based upon poultry type and density for the contiguous United States.