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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342779
Research Project: Intervention Strategies to Prevent and Control Disease Outbreaks Caused by Emerging Strains of Avian Influenza Viruses

Location: Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research

Title: Experimental infection of H5N1 and H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Author
item KWON, JUNG-HOON - Konkuk University
item LEE, DONG-HUN - Orise Fellow
item Swayne, David
item NOH, JIN-YONG - Konkuk University
item YUK, SEONG-SU - Konkuk University
item JEONG, SOL - Konkuk University
item LEE, S - Konkuk University
item WOO, C - Environmental Research Complex
item SHIN, J - Environmental Research Complex
item SONG, CHANG-SEON - Konkuk University

Submitted to: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2018
Publication Date: 5/4/2018
Citation: Kwon, J., Lee, D., Swayne, D.E., Noh, J., Yuk, S., Jeong, S., Lee, S.H., Woo, C., Shin, J.H., Song, C. 2018. Experimental infection of H5N1 and H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 65(5):1367-1371. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12872.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12872

Interpretive Summary: The deadly H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (group 2.3.4.4) viruses that have spread by wild birds is of great concern. In December 2014, it was introduced to North America with eradication in June 2015. Long-distance migrating ducks, such as Northern Pintail (Anas Acuta), were strongly suspected of being a source of Asia to North American transmission. In our study, we demonstrated that H5 HPAI virus infected Northern Pintails with either H5N1 (group 2.3.2.1) or H5N8 (group 2.3.4.4) virus were not ill and did not die, but the H5N8 (group 2.3.4.4) virus was better at growing in the birds transmitting to other birds. This study highlights the role migratory ducks can have in spreading some H5 HPAI viruses.

Technical Abstract: The wide geographic spread of Eurasian Goose/Guangdong lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) clade 2.3.4.4 viruses by wild birds is of great concern. In December 2014, an H5N8 HPAI clade 2.3.4.4A virus was introduced to North America. Long-distance migratory wild aquatic birds between East Asia and North America, such as Northern Pintail (Anas Acuta), were strongly suspected of being a source of intercontinental transmission. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity, infectivity and transmissibility of an H5N8 HPAI clade 2.3.4.4A virus in Northern Pintails and compared the results to that of an H5N1 HPAI clade 2.3.2.1 virus. All of Northern Pintails infected with either H5N1 or H5N8 virus lacked clinical signs and mortality, but the H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 virus was more efficient at replicating within and transmitting between Northern Pintails than the H5N1 clade 2.3.2.1 virus. The H5N8 infected birds shed high titer of viruses from oropharynx and cloaca, which in the field supported virus transmission and spread. This study highlights the role of wild waterfowl in the intercontinental spread of some HPAI viruses. Migratory aquatic birds should be carefully monitored for the early detection of H5 clade 2.3.4.4 and other HPAI viruses.