Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024

From December 2023 to March 2024, a surveillance program aiming to detect Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was conducted on Antarctica territories, specifically at Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Maritime Antarctic), and James Ross Island. At Fildes Peninsula, samples from marine...

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Main Authors: Benjamín Bennett-Laso, Bárbara Berazay, Gabriela Muñoz, Naomi Ariyama, Nikita Enciso, Christina Braun, Lucas Krüger, Miloš Barták, Marcelo González-Aravena, Victor Neira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1423404/full
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author Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Bárbara Berazay
Bárbara Berazay
Gabriela Muñoz
Gabriela Muñoz
Naomi Ariyama
Naomi Ariyama
Nikita Enciso
Christina Braun
Lucas Krüger
Lucas Krüger
Miloš Barták
Marcelo González-Aravena
Victor Neira
author_facet Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Bárbara Berazay
Bárbara Berazay
Gabriela Muñoz
Gabriela Muñoz
Naomi Ariyama
Naomi Ariyama
Nikita Enciso
Christina Braun
Lucas Krüger
Lucas Krüger
Miloš Barták
Marcelo González-Aravena
Victor Neira
author_sort Benjamín Bennett-Laso
collection DOAJ
description From December 2023 to March 2024, a surveillance program aiming to detect Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was conducted on Antarctica territories, specifically at Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Maritime Antarctic), and James Ross Island. At Fildes Peninsula, samples from marine birds and mammals were collected from four accessible sampling locations with significant animal colonies: Ardley Island, hosting a large concentration of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua); Ardley Cove, where small groups of likely non-breeding Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) were present; seal haul-out sites of Southern elephant (Mirounga leonina) and Weddell (Leptonycotes wedellii); and, a nesting site of Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus). Additionally, six samples were collected from five dead skuas near the Lachman lakes on James Ross Island (63.7989S, 57.8105W) on March 3, 2024. Despite collecting a total of 943 samples from Fildes Peninsula, all results tested negative for HPAI, and no animals displayed clinical signs or behaviors consistent with HPAI infection. However, all skua samples from James Ross Island tested positive for HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4 by specific real-time RT-PCR reactions, confirming the first recorded HPAI-related mortality event in Antarctica (south of 60°S), specifically in skuas. Further research is necessary to genetically characterize the virus and better understand the role of skuas in viral dissemination in Antarctica.
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spelling doaj-art-e2b5082ff2384f33a28533a3e43f75382024-12-06T16:27:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692024-12-011110.3389/fvets.2024.14234041423404Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024Benjamín Bennett-Laso0Benjamín Bennett-Laso1Bárbara Berazay2Bárbara Berazay3Gabriela Muñoz4Gabriela Muñoz5Naomi Ariyama6Naomi Ariyama7Nikita Enciso8Christina Braun9Lucas Krüger10Lucas Krüger11Miloš Barták12Marcelo González-Aravena13Victor Neira14Departamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChilePrograma de Magister en Ciencias Animales y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChilePrograma de Doctorado en Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChilePolar & Bird Ecology Group, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, GermanyInstituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, ChileMillennium Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, ChileDepartment of Experimental Biology, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Brno, CzechiaInstituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, ChileDepartamento de Medicina Preventiva Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileFrom December 2023 to March 2024, a surveillance program aiming to detect Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was conducted on Antarctica territories, specifically at Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Maritime Antarctic), and James Ross Island. At Fildes Peninsula, samples from marine birds and mammals were collected from four accessible sampling locations with significant animal colonies: Ardley Island, hosting a large concentration of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua); Ardley Cove, where small groups of likely non-breeding Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) were present; seal haul-out sites of Southern elephant (Mirounga leonina) and Weddell (Leptonycotes wedellii); and, a nesting site of Southern giant petrels (Macronectes giganteus). Additionally, six samples were collected from five dead skuas near the Lachman lakes on James Ross Island (63.7989S, 57.8105W) on March 3, 2024. Despite collecting a total of 943 samples from Fildes Peninsula, all results tested negative for HPAI, and no animals displayed clinical signs or behaviors consistent with HPAI infection. However, all skua samples from James Ross Island tested positive for HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4 by specific real-time RT-PCR reactions, confirming the first recorded HPAI-related mortality event in Antarctica (south of 60°S), specifically in skuas. Further research is necessary to genetically characterize the virus and better understand the role of skuas in viral dissemination in Antarctica.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1423404/fullhighly pathogenic avian influenzaavian influenzaAntarcticaAntarctic wildlifeskuasH5N1 2.3.4.4b
spellingShingle Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Benjamín Bennett-Laso
Bárbara Berazay
Bárbara Berazay
Gabriela Muñoz
Gabriela Muñoz
Naomi Ariyama
Naomi Ariyama
Nikita Enciso
Christina Braun
Lucas Krüger
Lucas Krüger
Miloš Barták
Marcelo González-Aravena
Victor Neira
Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
highly pathogenic avian influenza
avian influenza
Antarctica
Antarctic wildlife
skuas
H5N1 2.3.4.4b
title Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
title_full Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
title_fullStr Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
title_full_unstemmed Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
title_short Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in skuas, Antarctica 2024
title_sort confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 in skuas antarctica 2024
topic highly pathogenic avian influenza
avian influenza
Antarctica
Antarctic wildlife
skuas
H5N1 2.3.4.4b
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1423404/full
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