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mBio
. 2024 Jul 16:e0320323.
doi: 10.1128/mbio.03203-23. Online ahead of print. Avian influenza viruses in wild birds in Canada following incursions of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus from Eurasia in 2021-2022
Jolene A Giacinti 1 , Anthony V Signore 2 , Megan E B Jones 3 , Laura Bourque 3 , Stéphane Lair 4 , Claire Jardine 5 , Brian Stevens 5 , Trent Bollinger 6 , Dayna Goldsmith 7 ; British Columbia Wildlife AIV Surveillance Program (BC WASP) 8 ; Margo Pybus 9 , Iga Stasiak 10 , Richard Davis 11 , Neil Pople 12 , Larissa Nituch 13 , Rodney W Brook 13 , Davor Ojkic 14 , Ariane Massé 15 , Gabrielle Dimitri-Masson 16 , Glen J Parsons 17 , Meghan Baker 18 , Carmencita Yason 19 , Jane Harms 20 , Naima Jutha 21 , Jon Neely 22 , Yohannes Berhane 2 , Oliver Lung 2 , Shannon K French 23 , Lawrna Myers 23 , Jennifer F Provencher 1 , Stephanie Avery-Gomm 24 , Gregory J Robertson 24 , Tatsiana Barychka 24 , Kirsty E B Gurney 25 , Jordan Wight 26 , Ishraq Rahman 26 , Kathryn Hargan 26 , Andrew S Lang 26 , William A Montevecchi 26 27 , Tori V Burt 26 27 , Michael G C Brown 28 , Cynthia Pekarik 28 , Trevor Thompson 28 , Angela McLaughlin 1 29 , Megan Willie 30 , Laurie Wilson 30 , Scott A Flemming 30 , Megan V Ross 30 , Jim Leafloor 31 , Frank Baldwin 31 , Chris Sharp 32 , Hannah Lewis 32 , Matthieu Beaumont 33 , Al Hanson 34 , Robert A Ronconi 34 , Eric Reed 35 , Margaret Campbell 36 , Michelle Saunders 37 , Catherine Soos 25
Affiliations
Following the detection of novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in Newfoundland, Canada, in late 2021, avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in wild birds was scaled up across Canada. Herein, we present the results of Canada's Interagency Surveillance Program for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds during the first year (November 2021-November 2022) following the incursions of HPAIV from Eurasia. The key objectives of the surveillance program were to (i) identify the presence, distribution, and spread of HPAIV and other AIVs; (ii) identify wild bird morbidity and mortality associated with HPAIV; (iii) identify the range of wild bird species infected by HPAIV; and (iv) genetically characterize detected AIV. A total of 6,246 sick and dead wild birds were tested, of which 27.4% were HPAIV positive across 12 taxonomic orders and 80 species. Geographically, HPAIV detections occurred in all Canadian provinces and territories, with the highest numbers in the Atlantic and Central Flyways. Temporally, peak detections differed across flyways, though the national peak occurred in April 2022. In an additional 11,295 asymptomatic harvested or live-captured wild birds, 5.2% were HPAIV positive across 3 taxonomic orders and 19 species. Whole-genome sequencing identified HPAIV of Eurasian origin as most prevalent in the Atlantic Flyway, along with multiple reassortants of mixed Eurasian and North American origins distributed across Canada, with moderate structuring at the flyway scale. Wild birds were victims and reservoirs of HPAIV H5N1 2.3.4.4b, underscoring the importance of surveillance encompassing samples from sick and dead, as well as live and harvested birds, to provide insights into the dynamics and potential impacts of the HPAIV H5N1 outbreak. This dramatic shift in the presence and distribution of HPAIV in wild birds in Canada highlights a need for sustained investment in wild bird surveillance and collaboration across interagency partners.
Importance: We present the results of Canada's Interagency Surveillance Program for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in the year following the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 on the continent. The surveillance program tested over 17,000 wild birds, both sick and apparently healthy, which revealed spatiotemporal and taxonomic patterns in HPAIV prevalence and mortality across Canada. The significant shift in the presence and distribution of HPAIV in Canada's wild birds underscores the need for sustained investment in wild bird surveillance and collaboration across One Health partners.
Keywords: H5N1; avian influenza; highly pathogenic avian influenza virus; low pathogenicity avian influenza virus; reservoir; surveillance; wild birds.
. 2024 Jul 16:e0320323.
doi: 10.1128/mbio.03203-23. Online ahead of print. Avian influenza viruses in wild birds in Canada following incursions of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus from Eurasia in 2021-2022
Jolene A Giacinti 1 , Anthony V Signore 2 , Megan E B Jones 3 , Laura Bourque 3 , Stéphane Lair 4 , Claire Jardine 5 , Brian Stevens 5 , Trent Bollinger 6 , Dayna Goldsmith 7 ; British Columbia Wildlife AIV Surveillance Program (BC WASP) 8 ; Margo Pybus 9 , Iga Stasiak 10 , Richard Davis 11 , Neil Pople 12 , Larissa Nituch 13 , Rodney W Brook 13 , Davor Ojkic 14 , Ariane Massé 15 , Gabrielle Dimitri-Masson 16 , Glen J Parsons 17 , Meghan Baker 18 , Carmencita Yason 19 , Jane Harms 20 , Naima Jutha 21 , Jon Neely 22 , Yohannes Berhane 2 , Oliver Lung 2 , Shannon K French 23 , Lawrna Myers 23 , Jennifer F Provencher 1 , Stephanie Avery-Gomm 24 , Gregory J Robertson 24 , Tatsiana Barychka 24 , Kirsty E B Gurney 25 , Jordan Wight 26 , Ishraq Rahman 26 , Kathryn Hargan 26 , Andrew S Lang 26 , William A Montevecchi 26 27 , Tori V Burt 26 27 , Michael G C Brown 28 , Cynthia Pekarik 28 , Trevor Thompson 28 , Angela McLaughlin 1 29 , Megan Willie 30 , Laurie Wilson 30 , Scott A Flemming 30 , Megan V Ross 30 , Jim Leafloor 31 , Frank Baldwin 31 , Chris Sharp 32 , Hannah Lewis 32 , Matthieu Beaumont 33 , Al Hanson 34 , Robert A Ronconi 34 , Eric Reed 35 , Margaret Campbell 36 , Michelle Saunders 37 , Catherine Soos 25
Affiliations
- PMID: 39012149
- DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03203-23
Following the detection of novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in Newfoundland, Canada, in late 2021, avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in wild birds was scaled up across Canada. Herein, we present the results of Canada's Interagency Surveillance Program for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds during the first year (November 2021-November 2022) following the incursions of HPAIV from Eurasia. The key objectives of the surveillance program were to (i) identify the presence, distribution, and spread of HPAIV and other AIVs; (ii) identify wild bird morbidity and mortality associated with HPAIV; (iii) identify the range of wild bird species infected by HPAIV; and (iv) genetically characterize detected AIV. A total of 6,246 sick and dead wild birds were tested, of which 27.4% were HPAIV positive across 12 taxonomic orders and 80 species. Geographically, HPAIV detections occurred in all Canadian provinces and territories, with the highest numbers in the Atlantic and Central Flyways. Temporally, peak detections differed across flyways, though the national peak occurred in April 2022. In an additional 11,295 asymptomatic harvested or live-captured wild birds, 5.2% were HPAIV positive across 3 taxonomic orders and 19 species. Whole-genome sequencing identified HPAIV of Eurasian origin as most prevalent in the Atlantic Flyway, along with multiple reassortants of mixed Eurasian and North American origins distributed across Canada, with moderate structuring at the flyway scale. Wild birds were victims and reservoirs of HPAIV H5N1 2.3.4.4b, underscoring the importance of surveillance encompassing samples from sick and dead, as well as live and harvested birds, to provide insights into the dynamics and potential impacts of the HPAIV H5N1 outbreak. This dramatic shift in the presence and distribution of HPAIV in wild birds in Canada highlights a need for sustained investment in wild bird surveillance and collaboration across interagency partners.
Importance: We present the results of Canada's Interagency Surveillance Program for Avian Influenza in Wild Birds in the year following the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 on the continent. The surveillance program tested over 17,000 wild birds, both sick and apparently healthy, which revealed spatiotemporal and taxonomic patterns in HPAIV prevalence and mortality across Canada. The significant shift in the presence and distribution of HPAIV in Canada's wild birds underscores the need for sustained investment in wild bird surveillance and collaboration across One Health partners.
Keywords: H5N1; avian influenza; highly pathogenic avian influenza virus; low pathogenicity avian influenza virus; reservoir; surveillance; wild birds.