Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83 (4): 543-556, 2010
REVIEW ARTICLE
Avian influenza: Eco-epidemiological aspects of the virus in its natural hosts, the migratory
waterfowls
Avian influenza viruses produce mainly respiratory and intestinal diseases. Their
relevance in the generation of pandemic strains has led to a large amount of research to understand their distribution in nature, as well
as the relations that become established for the effective transmission among different hosts. Waterfowl have been recognized as their
natural reservoir and they play an important role in the propagation and generation of the diversity of these viruses. The emergence of
new influenza viruses with pandemic potential among the human population (H5N1 of avian origin or recombinant H1N1 with avian
segments) point our lack of information on many aspects of the ecology and epidemiology of these viruses in their natural hosts to
enable the implementation of more effective prevention and control measures. In this review, we attempt to make a critical essay on
the current state of knowledge on the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the ecology and epidemiology of the influenza A viruses in
wild birds.
Key words:
avian influenza,
ecology, epidemiology, migratory birds
