Dataset Information

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak in New England Seals, United States.

ABSTRACT: We report the spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) into marine mammals in the northeastern United States, coincident with H5N1 in sympatric wild birds. Our data indicate monitoring both wild coastal birds and marine mammals will be critical to determine pandemic potential of influenza A viruses.

SUBMITTER: Puryear W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10045683 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak in New England Seals, United States.

Puryear Wendy W Sawatzki Kaitlin K Hill Nichola N Foss Alexa A Stone Jonathon J JJ Doughty Lynda L Walk Dominique D Gilbert Katie K Murray Maureen M Cox Elena E Patel Priya P Mertz Zak Z Ellis Stephanie S Taylor Jennifer J Fauquier Deborah D Smith Ainsley A DiGiovanni Robert A RA van de Guchte Adriana A Gonzalez-Reiche Ana Silvia AS Khalil Zain Z van Bakel Harm H Torchetti Mia K MK Lantz Kristina K Lenoch Julianna B JB Runstadler Jonathan J

Emerging infectious diseases 20230401 4

We report the spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) into marine mammals in the northeastern United States, coincident with H5N1 in sympatric wild birds. Our data indicate monitoring both wild coastal birds and marine mammals will be critical to determine pandemic potential of influenza A viruses. ...[more]

PMID: 36958010

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Project description:Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b continue to have unprecedented global impacts on wild birds and mammals, with especially significant mortality observed in colonial surface-nesting seabirds and in some marine mammal species. In July of 2023 H5N1 HPAIV 2.3.4.4b was detected in Caspian terns nesting on Rat Island, Washington USA. An estimated 1,800-1,900 adult terns populated the breeding colony, based on aerial photographs taken at the start of the outbreak. On a near-weekly basis throughout July and August, we counted and removed carcasses, euthanized moribund birds, and collected swab and tissue samples for diagnostic testing and next-generation sequencing. We directly counted 1,101 dead Caspian tern adults and 520 dead chicks, indicating a minimum 56% loss of the adult colony population and potential impacts to reproductive success. Combining the observed mortality on Rat Island with HPAI-related Caspian tern deaths recorded elsewhere in Washington and Oregon, we estimate that 10-14% of the Pacific Flyway population was lost in the summer of 2023. Comparatively few adult Glaucous-winged gulls (hybrids) nesting on Rat Island died (~3% of the local population), although gull chick mortality was high. Sixteen harbor seals in the immediate or nearby area stranded during the outbreak, and H5N1 HPAIV was detected in brain and/or lung tissue of five seals. These cases are the first known detections of HPAIV in a marine mammal on the Pacific coast of North America. Phylogenetic analyses support the occurrence of at least three independent avian-mammalian virus spillover events (tern or gull to harbor seal). Whole genome sequencing indicated that H5N1 HPAIV may have been introduced to Washington from Caspian terns in Oregon. Ongoing monitoring and surveillance for H5N1 HPAIV in the marine environment is necessary to understand the epidemiology of this virus, assess conservation impacts to susceptible species, and provide support for data-driven management and response actions.

Dataset Information

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak in New England Seals, United States.

Publications

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak in New England Seals, United States.

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