%0 Journal Article
%T Comparative distribution of human and avian type sialic acid influenza receptors in the pig
%A Rahul K Nelli
%A Suresh V Kuchipudi
%A Gavin A White
%A Belinda Perez
%A Stephen P Dunham
%A Kin-Chow Chang
%J BMC Veterinary Research
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1746-6148-6-4
%X Both SA¦Á2,3-Gal and SA¦Á2,6-Gal receptors were extensively detected in the major porcine organs examined (trachea, lung, liver, kidney, spleen, heart, skeletal muscle, cerebrum, small intestine and colon). Furthermore, distribution of both SA receptors in the pig respiratory tract closely resembled the published data of the human tract. Similar expression patterns of SA receptors between pig and human in other major organs were found, with exception of the intestinal tract. Unlike the limited reports on the scarcity of influenza receptors in human intestines, we found increasing presence of SA¦Á2,3-Gal and SA¦Á2,6-Gal receptors from duodenum to colon in the pig.The extensive presence of SA¦Á2,3-Gal and SA¦Á2,6-Gal receptors in the major organs examined suggests that each major organ may be permissive to influenza virus entry or infection. The high similarity of SA expression patterns between pig and human, in particular in the respiratory tract, suggests that pigs are not more likely to be potential hosts for virus reassortment than humans. Our finding of relative abundance of SA receptors in the pig intestines highlights a need for clarification on the presence of SA receptors in the human intestinal tract.Influenza A viruses have a wide host range for birds and mammals, posing a major threat to animal health as well as a zoonotic threat to humans [1]. Influenza pandemics can arise from genetic reassortment between avian and human influenza viruses or alternatively by the direct adaptation of avian or mammalian viruses to efficient human to human transmission [2]. Swine influenza is a major respiratory problem in pigs; in uncomplicated infections the condition is usually mild to moderate and non-fatal, with complete recovery within 2 weeks after the onset of clinical signs. The 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus in experimentally infected pigs has been shown to produce similarly mild to moderate signs and pathology [3] as in most human cases of the same virus. The pig is often de
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/6/4