Abstract Title
High Diversity of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses in the Arctic Territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen, 2022-2023
Abstract
The Arctic, characterized by its extreme climate and relative isolation, has long remained unaffected by many globally significant infectious diseases. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) expanded during the 2021/2022 epidemic season, leading to the first detection of HPAIV on the Arctic territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen in 2022. Various bird species with different migratory routes breed in these areas. Affected species in 2022 were the glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) and great skua (Stercorarius skua). Virus detections were concentrated in the summer season, and HPAIV genotypes H5N1 EA-2020-C, H5N1 EA-2021-AB, and H5N5 EA-2021-I were identified.
In the following epidemic wave of 2023, HPAIVs were again detected on Svalbard, affecting an expanded range of species, including the glaucous gull, great skua, black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), and purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima). Three different HPAIV genotypes, H5N1 EA-2020-C, H5N1 EA-2022-BB, and H5N5 EA-2021-I, were found during this breeding season.
In this study, whole genome sequencing was performed on HPAIVs detected in wild birds sampled from Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and the results of phylogenetic analyses are discussed in further detail. The detection of both HPAI H5N5 and H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses over two successive breeding seasons, along with concurrent detections of diverse genotypes, suggests multiple introductions of HPAIVs to these Arctic territories. Consequently, Arctic breeding sites may function as hotspots for virus reassortment, spread, and further dispersion of HPAIVs.
In the following epidemic wave of 2023, HPAIVs were again detected on Svalbard, affecting an expanded range of species, including the glaucous gull, great skua, black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), and purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima). Three different HPAIV genotypes, H5N1 EA-2020-C, H5N1 EA-2022-BB, and H5N5 EA-2021-I, were found during this breeding season.
In this study, whole genome sequencing was performed on HPAIVs detected in wild birds sampled from Svalbard and Jan Mayen, and the results of phylogenetic analyses are discussed in further detail. The detection of both HPAI H5N5 and H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses over two successive breeding seasons, along with concurrent detections of diverse genotypes, suggests multiple introductions of HPAIVs to these Arctic territories. Consequently, Arctic breeding sites may function as hotspots for virus reassortment, spread, and further dispersion of HPAIVs.
Co-Author(s)
Silje Granstad1, Ragnhild Tønnessen1, Britt Gjerset1, Bjørnar Ytrehus1, Hans Kristian Mjelde1, Børge Moe2, Sveinn Are Hanssen2, Egil Rønning3, Geir Wing Gabrielsen4, Hallvard Strøm4, Sebastien Descamps4, Ole-Herman Tronerud5, Johan Åkerstedt1, Cathrine Arnason Bøe1
1Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
2Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
3Governor of Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway
4Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway
5Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Oslo, Norway
Abstract Category
Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds