Transbound Emerg Dis . Multiple independent introductions of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses during the 2020-2021 epizootic in France

[tetano]

Transbound Emerg Dis


. 2022 Sep 26.
doi: 10.1111/tbed.14711. Online ahead of print.
Multiple independent introductions of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses during the 2020-2021 epizootic in France


François-Xavier Briand ^{1 2} , Eric Niqueux ^{1 2} , Audrey Schmitz ^{1 2} , Claire Martenot ^{1 2} , Martine Cherbonnel ^{1 2} , Pascale Massin ^{1 2} , Rachel Busson ^{1 2} , Carole Guillemoto ^{1 2} , Isabelle Pierre ^{1 2} , Katell Louboutin ^{1 2} , Florent Souchaud ^{1 2} , Chantal Allée ^{1 2} , Helene Quenault ¹ , Pierrick Lucas ¹ , Anne Van de Wiele ³ , Yannick Blanchard ¹ , Nicolas Eterradossi ¹ , Axelle Scoizec ¹ , Sophie Le Bouquin-Leneveu ¹ , Severine Rautureau ⁴ , Yves Lambert ⁴ , Béatrice Grasland ^{1 2}



Affiliations

• PMID: 36161777
• DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14711

Abstract

During winter 2020-21, France and other European countries were severely affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses of the Gs/GD/96 lineage, clade 2.3.4.4b. In total, 519 cases occurred, mainly in domestic waterfowl farms in Southwestern France. Analysis of viral genomic sequences indicated that 3 subtypes of HPAI H5 viruses were detected (H5N1, H5N3, H5N8), but most French viruses belonged to the H5N8 subtype genotype A, as Europe. Phylogenetic analyses of HPAI H5N8 viruses revealed that the French sequences were distributed in 9 genogroups, suggesting 9 independent introductions of H5N8 from wild birds, in addition to the 2 introductions of H5N1 and H5N3. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Epizootic; H5N8 subtype; Highly pathogenic Influenza A virus; birds.