Commentary
Swine Flu Sequences in Wild Birds in South Dakota
Recombinomics Commentary 23:42
June 17, 2008
Recently released wild bird sequences from South Dakota have swine sequences. Thus far only PB2 sequences from three isolates, A/mallard duck/South Dakota/Sg-00127/2007, A/pintail duck/South Dakota/Sg-00126/2007, and A/mallard duck/South Dakota/Sg-00125/2007, have been released. All three are H3N2 and collected on September 19, 2007 suggesting they came from the same location. The sequences are closely related to each other as well as turkey sequences from Ohio and North Carolina. Full sequences from the Ohio and North Carolina sequences are available. In those isolates the H3 (circa mid-90’s) and N2 (circa 2003) are human, while the other six gene segments are swine (primarily H1).
Thus, it is possible that the wild bird sequences in South Dakota will have the same constellation of genes as seen in the earlier turkey sequences. However, the recently released 2007 sequences show that these sequences are still in circulation and are currently in a wild bird reservoir.
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