Wild birds in Chile Harbor diverse avian influenza A viruses

Subtype H6 avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) are enzootic and genetically diverse in both domestic poultry and wild waterfowl and may cause spillovers in both pigs and humans. Thus, it is important to understand the genetic diversity of H6 IAVs in birds and their zoonotic potential. Compared with that in domestic poultry, the genetic diversity of H6 viruses in wild birds in China has not been well-understood. In this study, five H6 viruses were isolated from wild birds in Poyang Lake, China, and genetic analyses showed that these isolates are clustered into four genotypes associated with reassortments among avian IAVs from domestic poultry and wild birds in China and those from Eurasia and North America and that these viruses exhibited distinct phenotypes in growth kinetics analyses with avian and mammalian cells lines and in mouse challenge experiments. Of interest is that two H6 isolates from the Eurasian teal replicated effectively in the mouse lung without prior adaptation, whereas the other three did not. Our study suggested that there are variations in the mammalian viral replication efficiency phenotypic among genetically diverse H6 IAVs in wild birds and that both intra- and inter-continental movements of IAVs through wild bird migration may facilitate the emergence of novel H6 IAV reassortants with the potential for replicating in mammals, including humans. Continued surveillance to monitor the diversity of H6 IAVs in wild birds is necessary to increase our understanding of the natural history of IAVs.

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Reassortment and persistence of influenza A viruses from diverse geographic origins within Australian wild birds: evidence from a small, isolated population of Ruddy turnstones

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02193-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bethany J. Hoye ◽

Celeste M. Donato ◽

Simeon Lisovski ◽

Yi-Mo Deng ◽

Simone Warner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Low Density ◽

Isolated Population ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Geographic Origins ◽

Eastern Australia

Australian lineages of avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) are thought to be phylogenetically distinct from those circulating in Eurasia and the Americas, suggesting the circulation of endemic viruses seeded by occasional introductions from other regions. However, processes underlying the introduction, evolution and maintenance of AIVs in Australia remain poorly understood. Waders (Order Charadriiformes, Family Scolopacidae) may play a unique role in the ecology and evolution of AIVs, particularly in Australia, where ducks, geese and swans (Order Anseriformes, Family Anatidae) rarely undertake intercontinental migrations. Across a five-year surveillance period (2011–2015), Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) that ‘overwinter’ during the Austral summer in south eastern Australia showed generally low levels of AIV prevalence (0–2%). However, in March 2014 we detected AIVs in 32% (95% CI; 25–39%) of individuals in a small, low-density, island population 90km from the Australian mainland. This epizootic comprised three distinct AIV genotypes, each of which represent a unique reassortment of Australian, recently introduced Eurasian, and recently introduced American-lineage gene segments. Strikingly, the Australian-lineage gene segments showed high similarity to H10N7 viruses isolated in 2010 and 2012 from poultry outbreaks 900–1500km to the north. Together with the diverse geographic origins of the American and Eurasian gene segments, these findings suggest extensive circulation and reassortment of AIVs within Australian wild birds over vast geographic distances. Our findings indicate that long-term surveillance in waders may yield unique insights into AIV gene flow, especially in geographic regions like Oceania where Anatidae do not display regular inter- or intracontinental migration. IMPORTANCE High prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) was detected in a small, low-density, isolated population of Ruddy turnstones in Australia. Analysis of these viruses revealed relatively recent introductions of viral gene segments from both Eurasia and North America, as well as long-term persistence of introduced gene segments in Australian wild birds. These data demonstrate that the flow of viruses into Australia may be more common than initially thought and that, once introduced, these AIVs have the potential to be maintained within the continent. These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting Australian wild birds are unlikely to be ecologically-isolated from the highly pathogenic H5Nx viruses circulating among wild birds throughout the northern hemisphere.

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A High Diversity of Eurasian Lineage Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza A Viruses Circulate among Wild Birds Sampled in Egypt

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0068522 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e68522 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Nancy A. Gerloff ◽

Joyce Jones ◽

Natosha Simpson ◽

Amanda Balish ◽

Maha Adel ElBadry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Eurasian Lineage ◽

High Diversity

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Genetic Evidence Supports Sporadic and Independent Introductions of Subtype H5 Low-Pathogenic Avian Influenza A Viruses from Wild Birds to Domestic Poultry in North America

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00913-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 92 (19) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Lei Li ◽

Andrew S. Bowman ◽

Thomas J. DeLiberto ◽

Mary L. Killian ◽

Scott Krauss ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

The United States ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽

Live Bird Markets ◽

Domestic Poultry ◽

Live Bird

ABSTRACTWild-bird origin influenza A viruses (IAVs or avian influenza) have led to sporadic outbreaks among domestic poultry in the United States and Canada, resulting in economic losses through the implementation of costly containment practices and destruction of birds. We used evolutionary analyses of virus sequence data to determine that 78 H5 low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) isolated from domestic poultry in the United States and Canada during 2001 to 2017 resulted from 18 independent virus introductions from wild birds. Within the wild-bird reservoir, the hemagglutinin gene segments of H5 LPAIVs exist primarily as two cocirculating genetic sublineages, and our findings suggest that the H5 gene segments flow within each migratory bird flyway and among adjacent flyways, with limited exchange between the nonadjacent Atlantic and Pacific Flyways. Phylogeographic analyses provided evidence that IAVs from dabbling ducks and swans/geese contributed to the emergence of viruses among domestic poultry. H5 LPAIVs isolated from commercial farm poultry (i.e., turkey) that were descended from a single introduction typically remained a single genotype, whereas those from live-bird markets sometimes led to multiple genotypes, reflecting the potential for reassortment with other IAVs circulating within live-bird markets. H5 LPAIVs introduced from wild birds to domestic poultry represent economic threats to the U.S. poultry industry, and our data suggest that such introductions have been sporadic, controlled effectively through production monitoring and a stamping-out policy, and are, therefore, unlikely to result in sustained detections in commercial poultry operations.IMPORTANCEIntegration of viral genome sequencing into influenza surveillance for wild birds and domestic poultry can elucidate evolutionary pathways of economically costly poultry pathogens. Evolutionary analyses of H5 LPAIVs detected in domestic poultry in the United States and Canada during 2001 to 2017 suggest that these viruses originated from repeated introductions of IAVs from wild birds, followed by various degrees of reassortment. Reassortment was observed where biosecurity was low and where opportunities for more than one virus to circulate existed (e.g., congregations of birds from different premises, such as live-bird markets). None of the H5 lineages identified were maintained for the long term in domestic poultry, suggesting that management strategies have been effective in minimizing the impacts of virus introductions on U.S. poultry production.

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Detection of Resistance Mutations to Antivirals Oseltamivir and Zanamivir in Avian Influenza A Viruses Isolated from Wild Birds

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0016028 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e16028 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Goran Orozovic ◽

Kanita Orozovic ◽

Johan Lennerstrand ◽

Björn Olsen

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Resistance Mutations ◽

Influenza A Viruses

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Evaluating the role of wild songbirds or rodents in spreading avian influenza virus across an agricultural landscape

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4060 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. e4060 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Derek D. Houston ◽

Shahan Azeem ◽

Coady W. Lundy ◽

Yuko Sato ◽

Baoqing Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Avian Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

The United States ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Influenza A Viruses

Background Avian influenza virus (AIV) infections occur naturally in wild bird populations and can cross the wildlife-domestic animal interface, often with devastating impacts on commercial poultry. Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds are natural AIV reservoirs and can carry the virus along migratory pathways, often without exhibiting clinical signs. However, these species rarely inhabit poultry farms, so transmission into domestic birds likely occurs through other means. In many cases, human activities are thought to spread the virus into domestic populations. Consequently, biosecurity measures have been implemented to limit human-facilitated outbreaks. The 2015 avian influenza outbreak in the United States, which occurred among poultry operations with strict biosecurity controls, suggests that alternative routes of virus infiltration may exist, including bridge hosts: wild animals that transfer virus from areas of high waterfowl and shorebird densities. Methods Here, we examined small, wild birds (songbirds, woodpeckers, etc.) and mammals in Iowa, one of the regions hit hardest by the 2015 avian influenza epizootic, to determine whether these animals carry AIV. To assess whether influenza A virus was present in other species in Iowa during our sampling period, we also present results from surveillance of waterfowl by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Unites Stated Department of Agriculture. Results Capturing animals at wetlands and near poultry facilities, we swabbed 449 individuals, internally and externally, for the presence of influenza A virus and no samples tested positive by qPCR. Similarly, serology from 402 animals showed no antibodies against influenza A. Although several species were captured at both wetland and poultry sites, the overall community structure of wild species differed significantly between these types of sites. In contrast, 83 out of 527 sampled waterfowl tested positive for influenza A via qPCR. Discussion These results suggest that even though influenza A viruses were present on the Iowa landscape at the time of our sampling, small, wild birds and rodents were unlikely to be frequent bridge hosts.

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Changing Role of Wild Birds in the Epidemiology of Avian Influenza A Viruses

Advances in Virus Research ◽

10.1016/bs.aivir.2017.10.007 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 279-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Rogier Bodewes ◽

Thijs Kuiken

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Changing Role

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First detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in Norway

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02928-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Knut Madslien ◽

Torfinn Moldal ◽

Britt Gjerset ◽

Sveinn Gudmundsson ◽

Arne Follestad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Zoonotic Potential ◽

Active Monitoring ◽

Main Hypothesis ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Pathogenic Avian Influenza ◽

Poultry Farms

Abstract Background Several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused by influenza A virus of subtype H5N8 have been reported in wild birds and poultry in Europe during autumn 2020. Norway is one of the few countries in Europe that had not previously detected HPAI virus, despite widespread active monitoring of both domestic and wild birds since 2005. Results We report detection of HPAI virus subtype H5N8 in a wild pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus), and several other geese, ducks and a gull, from south-western Norway in November and December 2020. Despite previous reports of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), this constitutes the first detections of HPAI in Norway. Conclusions The mode of introduction is unclear, but a northward migration of infected geese or gulls from Denmark or the Netherlands during the autumn of 2020 is currently our main hypothesis for the introduction of HPAI to Norway. The presence of HPAI in wild birds constitutes a new, and ongoing, threat to the Norwegian poultry industry, and compliance with the improved biosecurity measures on poultry farms should therefore be ensured. [MK1]Finally, although HPAI of subtype H5N8 has been reported to have very low zoonotic potential, this is a reminder that HPAI with greater zoonotic potential in wild birds may pose a threat in the future. [MK1]Updated with a sentence emphasizing the risk HPAI pose to poultry farms, both in the Abstract and in the Conclusion-section in main text, as suggested by Reviewer 1 (#7).

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Development and application of a real-time RT-PCR assay to rapidly detect H2 subtype avian influenza A viruses

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/1040638721994810 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104063872199481

Author(s):

Yixin Xiao ◽

Fan Yang ◽

Fumin Liu ◽

Hangping Yao ◽

Nanping Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Avian Influenza ◽

Real Time ◽

Influenza A ◽

Minor Groove Binder ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Infectious Dose ◽

The Matrix ◽

Taqman Minor Groove Binder

The H2 subtypes of avian influenza A viruses (avian IAVs) have been circulating in poultry, and they have the potential to infect humans. Therefore, establishing a method to quickly detect this subtype is pivotal. We developed a TaqMan minor groove binder real-time RT-PCR assay that involved probes and primers based on conserved sequences of the matrix and hemagglutinin genes. The detection limit of this assay was as low as one 50% egg infectious dose (EID50)/mL per reaction. This assay is specific, sensitive, and rapid for detecting avian IAV H2 subtypes.

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