Failure to infect pigs co-housed with ducks or chickens infected experimentally with A/turkey/Turkey/1/2005 (H5N1) highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

To simulate a field situation in which pigs are in close contact with poultry and thus provide a potential mixing vessel for avian, swine and human influenza viruses, uninfected pigs were placed in contact with Pekin ducks or chickens infected with a H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. To sustain prolonged exposure, newly inoculated birds were added at regular intervals. Although influenza virus was detected in birds and environmental samples, 14 days exposure to infected birds failed to produce evidence of infection in the pigs. The ability of pigs to generate reassortant viruses with these particular virus variants (H5N1 clade 2.2.1) may therefore be limited.