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.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2023
• Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1080-6040
• Electronic ISSN: 1080-6059
• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2510.190699