Susan M. Haig
Thomas D. Mullins
Luzhang Ruan
Bruce Casler
Alexei Dondua
H. River Gates
J. Matthew Johnson
Steven J. Kendall
Pavel S. Tomkovich
Diane Tracy
Olga P. Valchuk
Richard B. Lanctot
Mark P. Miller
2015
<p>Waterfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are the most common wild vectors of influenza A viruses. Due to their migratory behavior, some may transmit disease over long distances. Migratory connectivity studies can link breeding and nonbreeding grounds while illustrating potential interactions among populations that may spread diseases. We investigated Dunlin (<i>Calidris alpina</i>), a shorebird with a subspecies (<i>C. a. arcticola</i>) that migrates from nonbreeding areas endemic to avian influenza in eastern Asia to breeding grounds in northern Alaska. Using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA, we illustrate genetic structure among six subspecies: <i>C. a. arcticola</i>,<i> C. a. pacifica</i>,<i> C. a. hudsonia</i>,<i> C. a. sakhalina</i>,<i> C. a. kistchinski</i>, and <i>C. a. actites</i>. We demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA can help distinguish <i>C. a. arcticola</i> on the Asian nonbreeding grounds with >70% accuracy depending on their relative abundance, indicating that genetics can help determine whether <i>C. a. arcticola</i> occurs where they may be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during outbreaks. Our data reveal asymmetric intercontinental gene flow, with some <i>C. a. arcticola</i> short-stopping migration to breed with <i>C. a. pacifica</i> in western Alaska. Because <i>C. a. pacifica</i> migrates along the Pacific Coast of North America, interactions between these subspecies and other taxa provide route for transmission of HPAI into other parts of North America.</p>
application/pdf
10.1111/eva.12239
en
Wiley
Intercontinental genetic structure and gene flow in Dunlin (Calidris alpina), a potential vector of avian influenza
article