Experimental pathogenesis of aquatic bird bornavirus 1 in Pekin ducks

Abstract

Abstract Aquatic bird bornavirus 1 (ABBV-1), a member of the Bornaviridae family, is a neurotropic virus that causes persistent infection in the nervous system of wild waterfowl. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether Pekin ducks, the most common waterfowl raised worldwide, are susceptible to ABBV-1 infection and associated disease. Two-day-old Pekin ducks (n, 121) were inoculated with ABBV-1 through the intracranial (IC), intramuscular (IM), or choanal (CH) routes. At 1, 12, and 21 weeks postinfection (wpi), 7–14 birds were euthanized to assess virus distribution and lesions. Infection rates in the IC and IM groups were over 70%, while only 4 ducks in the CH group became infected. Neurological signs were observed in 8 ducks only, while over 25% of IC and IM birds had encephalitis and/or myelitis. Seroconversion was highest in the IC and IM groups, and mucosal ABBV-1 RNA shedding was most frequent in the IC group (53%). None of the fertile eggs laid during the experiment tested positive for ABBV-1 RNA. This study shows that Pekin ducks are permissive to ABBV-1 infection and partly susceptible to associated disease. While mucosal shedding may be an important route of transmission, congenital infection appears unlikely.