Highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H7N3 in great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) in the Altos de Jalisco region of Mexico

INTRODUCTION: In June 2012, the presence of a severe highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak produced by an influenza type A, subtype H7N3 (A/H7N3) virus was reported in Mexico, which significantly affected the region of Los Altos de Jalisco, the most important table-egg production zone in Mexico. CASE PRESENTATION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the occurrence of infection in wild endemic birds, and particularly in the great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), by an HPAI A/H7N3 orthomyxovirus, during the avian influenza epizootic, which occurred in June–October 2012, in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico, a highly significant poultry area. The great-tailed grackle population has increased significantly due to intense agricultural and livestock farming expansion throughout North and Central America and northern South America, in diverse ecological systems. The great-tailed grackle’s infectious/epidemiological role is unknown, as is its role as the avian influenza virus reservoir and as disseminator of other infectious diseases. CONCLUSION: Because of the huge impact that avian influenza virus has on food production, on the economic activity of the affected areas and on the public health of animal and human populations, it is necessary to further investigate the significance of a wild population existing in the vicinity of industrial poultry farms and backyard poultry operations.