Virological Investigation of Avian Influenza Virus on Postglacial Species of Phasianidae and Tetraonidae in the Italian Alps

Table 1

Overview of free-living Galliformes species collected during the hunting season in two postreproductive periods of the years 2003 and 2004 sampled by location and altitude in the Sondrio-province (Lombardy region, Central Alps). Birds are categorised into sex and age classes. Results of RT-PCR assay specific for the detection of AIVs are also shown.

Species	Sampling years	Sampling sites^a	Sampling altitude; (m a.s.l.)	Sex classes^b	Age classes^c	Total	RT-PCR positive/total examined
Rock partridge; (Alectoris graeca saxatilis)	2003	9, 10, 11	1400–2000	M: 1 F: 3 I: 2	Juv: 6 Ad: 0	11	0/11
	2004	11, 13	1600–2300	M: 3 F: 2 I: 0	Juv: 3 Ad: 2
Black grouse; (Tetrao tetrix tetrix)	2003	1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14	1700–2200	M: 38 F: 0 I: 0	Juv: 25 Ad: 13	45	0/45
	2004	1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 14	1800–2000	M: 7 F: 0 I: 0	Juv: 2 Ad: 5
Alpine rock ptarmigan; (Lagopus mutus helveticus)	2003	7, 8, 10, 14	2600–3000	M: 6 F: 5 I: 0	Juv: 4 Ad: 7	23	0/23
	2004	7, 8	2500–2900	M: 6 F: 6 I: 0	Juv: 6 Ad: 6

aSite numbers as given in Figure 1. ^bM: male; F: female; I: undetermined. ^cJuv: juvenile; Ad: adult.