Serologic evidence of exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses in migratory shorebirds, Australia

Wille, Michelle; Lisovski, Simeon; Risely, Alice; Ferenczi, Marta; Roshier, David; Wong, Frank Y.K.; Breed, Andrew C.; Klaassen, Marcel; Hurt, Aeron C.

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx viruses of the goose/Guangdong/96 lineage continue to cause outbreaks in poultry and wild birds globally. Shorebirds, known reservoirs of avian influenza viruses, migrate from Siberia to Australia along the East-Asian-Australasian Flyway. We examined whether migrating shorebirds spending nonbreeding seasons in Australia were exposed to HPAI H5 viruses. We compared those findings with those for a resident duck species. We screened >1,500 blood samples for nucleoprotein antibodies and tested positive samples for specific antibodies against 7 HPAI H5 virus antigens and 2 low pathogenicity avian influenza H5 virus antigens. We demonstrated the presence of hemagglutinin inhibitory antibodies against HPAI H5 virus clade 2.3.4.4 in the red-necked stint (Calidris ruficolis). We did not find hemagglutinin inhibitory antibodies in resident Pacific black ducks (Anas superciliosa). Our study highlights the potential role of long-distance migratory shorebirds in intercontinental spread of HPAI H5 viruses.

Citation

Wille, M., Lisovski, S., Risely, A., Ferenczi, M., Roshier, D., Wong, F. Y., …Hurt, A. C. (2019). Serologic evidence of exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses in migratory shorebirds, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25(10), https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2510.190699

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2023
• Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1080-6040
• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2510.190699