Filter-Feeding Bivalves Can Remove Avian Influenza Viruses From Water And Reduce Infectivity

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 05 Aug 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Avian influenza (AI) viruses are believed to be transmitted within aquatic bird populations through contaminated water. This study determined that filter-feeding clams can remove AI virus from water and reduce infectivity.

Wood ducks were inoculated with a variety of treatments, and none of the ducks inoculated with virus-infected water that was filtered by clams or that were inoculated with or fed tissue from these clams exhibited signs of infection.

These results indicate that filter-feeding bivalves can remove AI viruses from water, and demonstrate the need to examine the little-understood biotic environmental factors that can influence AI virus transmission.

Source
Royal Society B: Biological Sciences