High number of HPAI H5 virus infections and antibodies in wild carnivores in the Netherlands, 2020–2022

In October 2020, a new lineage of a clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI virus of the H5 subtype emerged in Europe, resulting in the largest global outbreak of HPAI to date, with unprecedented mortality in wild birds and poultry. The virus appears to have become enzootic in birds, continuously yielding novel HPAI virus variants. The recently increased abundance of infected birds worldwide increases the probability of bird–mammal contact, particularly in wild carnivores. Here, we performed molecular and serological screening of over 500 dead wild carnivores and sequencing of RNA positive materials. We show viro... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Chestakova, Irina V.
van der Linden, Anne
Bellido Martin, Beatriz
Caliendo, Valentina
Vuong, Oanh
Thewessen, Sanne
Hartung, Tijmen
Bestebroer, Theo
Dekker, Jasja
Jonge Poerink, Bob
Gröne, Andrea
Koopmans, Marion
Fouchier, Ron
van den Brand, Judith M.A.
Sikkema, Reina S.
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2023
Reihe/Periodikum: Chestakova , I V , van der Linden , A , Bellido Martin , B , Caliendo , V , Vuong , O , Thewessen , S , Hartung , T , Bestebroer , T , Dekker , J , Jonge Poerink , B , Gröne , A , Koopmans , M , Fouchier , R , van den Brand , J M A & Sikkema , R S 2023 , ' High number of HPAI H5 virus infections and antibodies in wild carnivores in the Netherlands, 2020–2022 ' , Emerging Microbes and Infections , vol. 12 , no. 2 , 2270068 . https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2023.2270068
Schlagwörter: /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being / name=SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-27225852
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://pure.eur.nl/en/publications/d0d4a57d-a754-4c1c-85e2-de8deeaddb1b

In October 2020, a new lineage of a clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI virus of the H5 subtype emerged in Europe, resulting in the largest global outbreak of HPAI to date, with unprecedented mortality in wild birds and poultry. The virus appears to have become enzootic in birds, continuously yielding novel HPAI virus variants. The recently increased abundance of infected birds worldwide increases the probability of bird–mammal contact, particularly in wild carnivores. Here, we performed molecular and serological screening of over 500 dead wild carnivores and sequencing of RNA positive materials. We show virological evidence for HPAI H5 virus infection in 0.8%, 1.4%, and 9.9% of animals tested in 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively, with the highest proportion of positives in foxes, polecats and stone martens. We obtained near full genomes of 7 viruses and detected PB2 amino acid substitutions known to play a role in mammalian adaptation in three sequences. Infections were also found in without neurological signs or mortality. Serological evidence for infection was detected in 20% of the study population. These findings suggests that a high proportion of wild carnivores is infected but undetected in current surveillance programmes. We recommend increased surveillance in susceptible mammals, irrespective of neurological signs or encephalitis.