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Potential Role of Fresh Water Apple Snails on H5N1 Influenza Virus Persistence and Concentration in Nature

Marc Souris, Daniel Gonzalez, Witthawat Wiriyarat, Kamlang Chumpolbanchorn, Supaluk Khaklang, Suwannapa Ninphanomchai, Weena Paungpin, Somjit Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan, Ladawan Sariya, Dubravka Selenic, Meriadeg AR Gouilh, Pattamaporn Kittayapong and Jean-Paul Gonzalez

Background

Influenza A viruses have the remarkable characteristic of sustainability in the environment. Mucus from snails contains sialic acids as the one that may allow avian influenza virions to bind to the vertebrate host cell membrane. Subsequently snails could potentially promote persistence and/or concentration of influenza Avirions through mucus, in wetland environment when virus is released from bird infected feces.

Methods

This article describes experimental research on the potential outcome of apple snails regarding the persistence and concentration of the H5N1 influenza virions in fresh water. The presence of virus was detected from water and snails by hemagglutination test, and H5N1 viral genetic material determined by quantitative RT-PCR

Results

Active virus in the water was demonstrated up to twelve days after water infestation without snails, and up to fourteen days with snails. Also, up to eleven days, the virus and genetic material were detected and tittered from snails. Although the presence of snails did not significantly change the persistence of H5N1 virus in the water, number of positive snail sampled and quantitative RT-PCR data suggest that snails may have the ability to concentrate and carry viral particles.

Conclusions

Ultimately snails could play a role in the virus ecology by concentrating viral particles from water and facilitating virus contact with the bird hosts that feed on them.