tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Virology
. 2026 Jan 22:617:110794.
doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2026.110794. Online ahead of print.
Genetically distinct H5N2 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus isolated from a peregrine falcon on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, harboring enhanced pathogenicity-associated amino acids in the PA protein
Mana Esaki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kosuke Okuya[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Manabu Onuma[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Makoto Ozawa[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
We report the first confirmed case of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection in a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) on Amami-Oshima Island, a region known for its unique biodiversity. The isolate, A/peregrine falcon/Kagoshima/5704A001/2025 (H5N2), showed genetic and phylogenetic divergence across all eight gene segments. Specific amino acids in the PA protein associated with increased pathogenicity in birds and mammals were also identified. Despite global surveillance, related ancestral viruses remain unreported. These findings highlight the need for expanded geographic surveillance and timely, transparent data sharing to better track and respond to emerging HPAIV threats.
Keywords: H5N2; High pathogenicity avian influenza virus; Peregrine falcon.
. 2026 Jan 22:617:110794.
doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2026.110794. Online ahead of print.
Genetically distinct H5N2 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus isolated from a peregrine falcon on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, harboring enhanced pathogenicity-associated amino acids in the PA protein
Mana Esaki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kosuke Okuya[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Manabu Onuma[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Makoto Ozawa[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41604901
- DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2026.110794
We report the first confirmed case of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection in a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) on Amami-Oshima Island, a region known for its unique biodiversity. The isolate, A/peregrine falcon/Kagoshima/5704A001/2025 (H5N2), showed genetic and phylogenetic divergence across all eight gene segments. Specific amino acids in the PA protein associated with increased pathogenicity in birds and mammals were also identified. Despite global surveillance, related ancestral viruses remain unreported. These findings highlight the need for expanded geographic surveillance and timely, transparent data sharing to better track and respond to emerging HPAIV threats.
Keywords: H5N2; High pathogenicity avian influenza virus; Peregrine falcon.