EXPERIMENTAL EXPOSURE OF FRANKLINS' GULLS (Larvus pipixcan) AND MALLARDS (Anas platyrhynchos) TO A TURKEY INFLUENZA A VIRUS A/Turkey/Minn/BF/72 (Hav6Neq2)

¹ Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Avian Disease Research Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA

Gulls (Larvus pipixcan) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were experimentally exposed to a turkey influenza A isolant, A/turkey/Minn/BF/72 (Hav6Neq 2). No clinical signs of disease were observed in either species. Tracheal shedding of virus from the gulls persisted for 24 days post-inoculation but virus later than 6 days post exposure could not be demonstrated in either tracheal or cloacal samples from the mallards. Precipitating antibodies were not detected. Hemagglutination-inhibition antibodies were demonstrated in inoculated gulls but antibody levels were low and erratic in ducks.