immune compatibility re: Question: interspecies virus transmission

Vend wrote:

> It seems to me that transmissibility of viruses
> between species doesn't match very well the
> evolutionary hierarchy.

> If I understand correctly, influenza viruses can
> spread between humans, pigs and various birds, but
> not to other domesticated or widespread mammals
> such as dogs, cats, cattles, sheep or rats.

> Intuitively I would have expected viruses to
> transfer more easly between more closely related
> species. Is there some evolutionary explanation
> for that anomaly or is it just an unfortunate
> coincidence?

One comment, which only responds to half of your
puzzle, is that pig organs are used sometimes for
human transplant, because the two species' immune
responses are so similar, or some such, that tissue
rejection is not a big issue.

That still doesn't explain the bird corner of the
triangle, although people+pigs+chickens sharing
dwellings is surely implicated deeply in whatever is
the answer.

xanthian.

.

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