Abstract Title
Avian influenza virus surveillance in Passerines in Ukraine: host or not?
Abstract
Introduction. Recent spillover of avian influenza virus (AIV) to domestic and wild mammals, including cows, emphasizes the importance of expanding the active surveillance and ecological studies in natural hosts. In this context passerines are neglected as putative natural hosts of AIV.
Methods. We sampled 1285 wild passerines in Ukraine in 2009-2021, 1290 birds in 2021-2024. The screening was done by virus isolation and RT-PCR. The samples came from different regions of Ukraine. For serology testing we used serum and eggs yolk samples. Research was funded NRFU (2021.01/0006), STCU (P444, P777), CRDF (AZDN).
Results. Two H7N1 AIVs were isolated from passerines, both from Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) in the winter season of 2021 (n=18). Genetic analysis revealed a similarity to viruses circulating in wild waterfowl reported from Europe, Asia. PCR surveillance indicated a surprisingly high prevalence of AIV in passerines 17.6–33.3%.
Antibodies to H1 subtype was detected in serum from crow. Antibody to H1, H2, H8 in eggs yolk were detected in multiple species: House Sparrow, Collared Flycatcher, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Blackbird. Seroprevalence varied from 0-12.5% (in HIT) and 0-20% (in ELISA).
Conclusions. Several lines of evidence (isolated virus, PCR-positive, seropositive samples) suggest that AIV can circulate to some degree in in wild Passeriformes in Ukraine. These findings are important because some passerines species occur close to human settlements and animal rearing facilities and could potentially be involved in AIV transmission. Our results highlighting the importance of AIV surveillance in new and forgotten natural hosts.
Methods. We sampled 1285 wild passerines in Ukraine in 2009-2021, 1290 birds in 2021-2024. The screening was done by virus isolation and RT-PCR. The samples came from different regions of Ukraine. For serology testing we used serum and eggs yolk samples. Research was funded NRFU (2021.01/0006), STCU (P444, P777), CRDF (AZDN).
Results. Two H7N1 AIVs were isolated from passerines, both from Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) in the winter season of 2021 (n=18). Genetic analysis revealed a similarity to viruses circulating in wild waterfowl reported from Europe, Asia. PCR surveillance indicated a surprisingly high prevalence of AIV in passerines 17.6–33.3%.
Antibodies to H1 subtype was detected in serum from crow. Antibody to H1, H2, H8 in eggs yolk were detected in multiple species: House Sparrow, Collared Flycatcher, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Blackbird. Seroprevalence varied from 0-12.5% (in HIT) and 0-20% (in ELISA).
Conclusions. Several lines of evidence (isolated virus, PCR-positive, seropositive samples) suggest that AIV can circulate to some degree in in wild Passeriformes in Ukraine. These findings are important because some passerines species occur close to human settlements and animal rearing facilities and could potentially be involved in AIV transmission. Our results highlighting the importance of AIV surveillance in new and forgotten natural hosts.
Co-Author(s)
Muzyka Nataliia1, Anastasia Popova1, Polina Yurko1, Oleksandr Rula1, Martin Beer4, Jonas Waldenström2, Denys Muzyka1,2,3
1 National Scientific Center Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine (IECVM), Kharkiv, Ukraine;
2 Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
3 Department of Zoology, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine;
4 Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems Germany
Abstract Category
Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds