Publications by authors named "Dione Mendez"
Wild aquatic birds are considered the natural hosts of 16 HA (H1-H16) and 9 NA (N1-N9) subtypes of influenza A viruses (FLUAV) found in different combinations. H14 FLUAVs are rarely detected in nature. Since 2011, H14 FLUAVs have been consistently detected in Guatemala, leading to the largest collection of this subtype from a single country.
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- The study focused on the transmission of influenza A viruses (FLUAVs) between commercial pigs and humans in a pig farm in Southern Guatemala, showing that this bidirectional transmission contributes to the creation of new virus strains.
- Over two years, 2,094 nasal swabs were collected from pigs showing respiratory symptoms, revealing a 12% prevalence of H1N1 subtype FLUAVs, which have unique genetic signatures indicating independent evolution from similar viruses in the region.
- The findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of FLUAVs in Guatemalan pigs, as the zoonotic risk of these viruses is still unclear and the epidemiology of such viruses in Latin America is largely