Ducks induce rapid and robust antibody responses than chickens at early time after intravenous infection with H9N2 avian influenza virus

Jianmei YangEmail author View ORCID ID profile,
Hongrui Cui,
Qiaoyang Teng,
Wenjun Ma,
Xuesong Li,
Binbin Wang,
Dawei Yan,
Hongjun Chen,
Qinfang Liu and
Zejun LiEmail author

Virology Journal201916:46

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-019-1150-8

Received: 20 December 2018
Accepted: 20 March 2019
Published: 11 April 2019

Abstract

Background

Compared with chickens, ducks are normally resistant to avian influenza virus without clinical signs while they habor almost all subtypes of influenza A viruses. To date, however the mechanism for duck anti-influenza has not been completely understood. The H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) is the most prevalent subtype of influenza A virus that infects chickens and ducks in China. However, H9N2 AIV replication and the host immune response in these domestic birds has not been systematically investigated.

Methods

In the present study, we compared the kinetics and magnitudes of antibody responses in chickens and ducks after infection with H9N2 AIV by the intranasal route or intravenous route. Furthermore, we determined the viral replication and distribution in chickens and ducks after infection with H9N2 AIV by the intravenous route.

Results

Our results revealed that the antibody response was rapid and robust in ducks than in chickens at early time (2-3dpi) after intravenous infection with H9N2 AIVs, while delayed and lower antibody detected in ducks than in chickens after intranasal infection with H9N2 AIVs. The virus was detected in multiple organs tissues in chickens but not in ducks infected by the intravenous route.

Conclusions

Our results provide the evidence that humoral immune response could play a critical role in duck resistance for influenza, which expands our knowledge on duck anti-influenza characteristics.