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Greco F, Ravenswater HM, Ruiz-Raya F, D'Avino C, Newell MA, Hewitt J, Taylor E, Benninghaus E, Daunt F, Goodman G, Steel D, Park J, Philip E, Thomas SS, Slomka MJ, Falchieri M, Reid SM, James J, Banyard AC, Burthe SJ, Cunningham EJA. Asymptomatic infection and antibody prevalence to co-occurring avian influenza viruses vary substantially between sympatric seabird species following H5N1 outbreaks. Sci Rep 2025; 15:1435. [PMID: 39789128 PMCID: PMC11718005 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-85152-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/01/2025] [Indexed: 01/12/2025] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases are of major concern to animal and human health. Recent emergence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) led to substantial global mortality across a range of host species. Co-occurring species showed marked differences in mortality, generating an urgent need for better epidemiological understanding within affected populations. We therefore tested for antibodies, indicative of previous exposure and recovery, and for active viral infection in apparently healthy individuals (n = 350) across five co-occurring seabird species on the Isle of May, Scotland, during 2023, following H5N1 HPAIV associated mortality in the preceding summer. Antibody prevalence to AIV subtypes varied substantially between species, ranging from 1.1% in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) (to H5) to 78.7% in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) (to H16 or both H13 and H16), and between 31 and 41% for three auk species (H5, H16 or both). At least 20.4% of auks had antibodies to an as yet unidentified subtype, suggesting further subtypes circulating in the population. We found low levels of active, but asymptomatic, AIV infection in individuals (1.6-4.5%), but excluded this as H5N1. Our results emphasise the importance of testing healthy individuals to understand the prevalence of co-circulating AIV subtypes in wild populations, and the potential for future reassortment events which could alter virus behaviour and impact.
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Grants
- NE/S007407/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/L002558/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/V001779/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/V001779/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/R016429/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- NE/V001779/1 Natural Environment Research Council
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- SE2213 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government and the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments, United Kingdom
- BB/X006204/1 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- BB/X006204/1 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- BB/X006204/1 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Greco
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.
| | - Hannah M Ravenswater
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Raya
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Chiara D'Avino
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Mark A Newell
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Josie Hewitt
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Erin Taylor
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Ella Benninghaus
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Francis Daunt
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Gidona Goodman
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH26 9RG, UK
| | - David Steel
- NatureScot, Great Glen House, Inverness, IV3 8NW, UK
| | - Jenny Park
- NatureScot, Great Glen House, Inverness, IV3 8NW, UK
| | - Emma Philip
- NatureScot, Great Glen House, Inverness, IV3 8NW, UK
| | - Saumya S Thomas
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Marek J Slomka
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Marco Falchieri
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Scott M Reid
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Joe James
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Ashley C Banyard
- Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA-Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Sarah J Burthe
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Scotland, UK
| | - Emma J A Cunningham
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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Vickers SH, Raghwani J, Banyard AC, Brown IH, Fournie G, Hill SC. Utilizing citizen science data to rapidly assess changing associations between wild birds and avian influenza outbreaks in poultry. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241713. [PMID: 39317317 PMCID: PMC11421901 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
High pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a rapidly evolving virus causing significant economic and environmental harm. Wild birds are a key viral reservoir and an important source of viral incursions into animal populations, including poultry. However, we lack a thorough understanding of which species drive incursions and whether this changes over time. We explored associations between the abundances of 152 avian species and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry premises across Great Britain between October 2021 and January 2023. Spatial generalized additive models were used, with species abundance distributions sourced from eBird. Associations were investigated at the species-specific level and across species aggregations. During autumn/winter, associations were generally strongest with waterbirds such as ducks and geese; however, we also found significant associations in groups such as non-native gamebirds and rapid change in species-specific associations over time. Our results demonstrate the value of citizen science to rapidly explore wild species as potential facilitators of disease incursions into well-monitored populations, especially in regions where viral surveillance in wild species is limited. This can be a critical step towards prioritizing targeted surveillance that could inform species-specific biosecurity measures; particularly for HPAIV, which has undergone sudden shifts in host range and continues to rapidly evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen H. Vickers
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, HatfieldAL9 7TA, UK
| | - Jayna Raghwani
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, HatfieldAL9 7TA, UK
| | - Ashley C. Banyard
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, SurreyKT15 3NB, UK
- WOAH/FAO International Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Swine Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Animal and Plant Health Agency, SurreyKT15 3NB, UK
| | - Ian H. Brown
- Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, SurreyKT15 3NB, UK
- WOAH/FAO International Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Swine Influenza and Newcastle Disease, Animal and Plant Health Agency, SurreyKT15 3NB, UK
| | - Guillaume Fournie
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, HatfieldAL9 7TA, UK
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, UK
- Université de Lyon, INRAE,VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Marcy l’Etoile, France
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Saint-Gènes-Champanelle, France
| | - Sarah C. Hill
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, HatfieldAL9 7TA, UK
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Wu HDI, Lin RS, Hwang WH, Huang ML, Chen BJ, Yen TC, Chao DY. Integrating Citizen Scientist Data into the Surveillance System for Avian Influenza Virus, Taiwan. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:45-53. [PMID: 36573518 PMCID: PMC9796195 DOI: 10.3201/eid2901.220659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuing circulation and reassortment with low-pathogenicity avian influenza Gs/Gd (goose/Guangdong/1996)-like avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has caused huge economic losses and raised public health concerns over the zoonotic potential. Virologic surveillance of wild birds has been suggested as part of a global AIV surveillance system. However, underreporting and biased selection of sampling sites has rendered gaining information about the transmission and evolution of highly pathogenic AIV problematic. We explored the use of the Citizen Scientist eBird database to elucidate the dynamic distribution of wild birds in Taiwan and their potential for AIV exchange with domestic poultry. Through the 2-stage analytical framework, we associated nonignorable risk with 10 species of wild birds with >100 significant positive results. We generated a risk map, which served as the guide for highly pathogenic AIV surveillance. Our methodologic blueprint has the potential to be incorporated into the global AIV surveillance system of wild birds.
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Dehgany-Asl S, Allymehr M, Talebi A, Yosefi O, Allahyari E. Monitoring of aquatic birds and surveillance of avian influenza and Newcastle disease of waterfowls at the National Park of Urmia Lake. Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:2016-2031. [PMID: 35763835 PMCID: PMC9514460 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urmia lake, as a national park, is one of the most valuable aquatic ecosystems in the Middle East and quatitative and qualitative changes in Urmia lake water have a great impact on its ecological performance and in the region. OBJECTIVES This project was designed to study the effects of the extent of Urmia lake water surface area on the area size and on the number of aquatic birds of the six selected habitats in 2011-2019. The presence of avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) viruses in migratory aquatic birds together with their impacts on poultry farms as well as on rural birds was also under surveillance in 2018-2019. METHODS Changes of Urmia lake and its impacts on area size of the six selected birds habitats were monitored by GIS. The small monitoring program with circular plot point counts was used for counting of the number of birds of the six selected habitats. At least, 100 samples (oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs) were collected. each sample was placed in a sterile plastic tube containg transport media and assigned with an number and store untill used. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR test were used for detection of AI and ND viruses in the samples. RESULTS The results revealed that changes in the water surface area of Urmia lake had a gsignificat impacts on area size and the number of aquatic birds of the six selected habitats. The surveillance results showed that 5% of the samples were AIV positvie while 25% of the samples were pasitive for NDV including 20% for non-virulent NDV (lNDV) and 5% for virulent NDV (vNDV) strains. CONCLUSION This study showed that fluctuation of Urmia lake's water surface area influenced (p < 0.05) the area size of the six selected aquatic birds' habitats and had a great impacts on the number of the migratory birds. Detection of AIV and vNDV emphesises that the seasonal migratory waterfowls spread AI and vND viruses to the ponds and estuaries as well as to the rural birds and industrialised poultry units around the Urmia lake. Potential public health treats were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saied Dehgany-Asl
- Department of Poultry Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan Province, Urmia, Iran
| | - Manoochehr Allymehr
- Department of Poultry Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan Province, Urmia, Iran
| | - Alireza Talebi
- Department of Poultry Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, West Azerbaijan Province, Urmia, Iran
| | - Omid Yosefi
- Division of Wildlife, General Department of Environment, West Azerbaijan Province, Urmia, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Allahyari
- Department of Health and Management of Poultry Diseases, Iran Veterinary Organization, West Azerbaijan Province, Urmia, Iran
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Nandi JS, Rathore SS, Mathur BR. Transmission of infectious viruses in the natural setting at human-animal interface. CURRENT RESEARCH IN VIROLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021; 2:100008. [PMID: 34250513 PMCID: PMC8256691 DOI: 10.1016/j.crviro.2021.100008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most viral pathogens causing epidemics and pandemics are zoonotic, emerging from wildlife reservoirs like SARS CoV2 causing the global Covid-19 pandemic, although animal origin of this virus remains a mystery. Cross-species transmission of pathogens from animals to humans is known as zoonosis. However, pathogens are also transmitted from humans to animals in regions where there is a close interaction between animals and humans by 'reverse transmission' (anthroponosis). Molecular evidence for the transmission of two zoonotic RNA viruses at the human-monkey interface in Rajasthan forests is presented here: a) the apathogenic Simian Foamy Viruses (SFV), and b): Influenza A viruses (IAV)-like virus, etiologic agent for human flu infecting wild Indian rhesus monkeys inhabiting Rajasthan forests. The data provide critical information on ecology and evolution of viruses of Public Health relevance. During replication, viral genomes mutate along the transmission route to adapt to the new hosts, generating new variants that are likely to have properties different from the founder viruses. Wild Indian monkeys are under-sampled for monitoring infectious diseases mainly because of the difficulties with sample collection. Monkeys are perceived as religious icons by the Hindus in India. It is extremely difficult to obtain permission from the Forest and Wildlife Department government authorities to collect wild simian blood samples for surveillance of infectious diseases caused by viral pathogens. Reducing animal-human contact and affordable vaccination are two relevant anti-viral strategies to counteract the spread of infectious zoonotic pathogens. Genbank Accession numbers: Indian SFVmac: ADN94420, IAV like virus: MZ298601.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shravan Singh Rathore
- Senior Wildlife Veterinarian, Machiya Biological Park, Post Office Saran Nagar Jodhpur, 342015, India
| | - Bajrang Raj Mathur
- Veterinary Expert, Government Veterinary Services, 6, Kamla Nehru Nagar, 1B1, Jodhpur, 342001, Rajasthan, India
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Liang WS, He YC, Wu HD, Li YT, Shih TH, Kao GS, Guo HY, Chao DY. Ecological factors associated with persistent circulation of multiple highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses among poultry farms in Taiwan during 2015-17. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236581. [PMID: 32790744 PMCID: PMC7425926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Emergence and intercontinental spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5Nx virus clade 2.3.4.4 has resulted in substantial economic losses to the poultry industry in Asia, Europe, and North America. The long-distance migratory birds have been suggested to play a major role in the global spread of avian influenza viruses during this wave of panzootic outbreaks since 2013. Poultry farm epidemics caused by multiple introduction of different HPAI novel subtypes of clade 2.3.4.4 viruses also occurred in Taiwan between 2015 and 2017. The mandatory and active surveillance detected H5N3 and H5N6 circulation in 2015 and 2017, respectively, while H5N2 and H5N8 were persistently identified in poultry farms since their first arrival in 2015. This study intended to assess the importance of various ecological factors contributed to the persistence of HPAI during three consecutive years. We used satellite technology to identify the location of waterfowl flocks. Four risk factors consistently showed strong association with the spatial clustering of H5N2 and H5N8 circulations during 2015 and 2017, including high poultry farm density (aOR:17.46, 95%CI: 5.91–74.86 and 8.23, 95% CI: 2.12–54.86 in 2015 and 2017, respectively), poultry heterogeneity index (aOR of 12.28, 95%CI: 5.02–31.14 and 2.79, 95%CI: 1.00–7.69, in 2015 and 2017, respectively), non-registered waterfowl flock density (aOR: 6.8, 95%CI: 3.41–14.46 and 9.17, 95%CI: 3.73–26.20, in 2015 and 2017, respectively) and higher percentage of cropping land coverage (aOR of 1.36, 95%CI: 1.10–1.69 and 1.04, 95%CI: 1.02–1.07, in 2015 and 2017, respectively). Our study highlights the application of remote sensing and clustering analysis for the identification and characterization of environmental factors in facilitating and contributing to the persistent circulation of certain subtypes of H5Nx in poultry farms in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Shan Liang
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen He
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Dar Wu
- Institute of statistics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Tsun Li
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tai-Hwa Shih
- Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Gour-Shenq Kao
- Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Yuh Guo
- Division of Agricultural Chemistry, Taiwan Agriculture Research Institute (TARI), Council of Agriculture, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Day-Yu Chao
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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