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Showing posts with the label foxes

Decoding non-human #mammalian adaptive #signatures of 2.3.4.4b #H5N1 to assess its #human adaptive potential

By G.M.
ABSTRACT The 2.3.4.4b clade highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 infected diverse non-human mammalian species , gained mammal-to-mammal transmission potential , and caused sporadic human infections . However, whether non-human mammals enable the human adaptation of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 to establish human infections is unclear. Gain-of-function research restrictions may hinder the assessment of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 human adaptations. Here, we tracked the evolution of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 that infected non-human mammals and evaluated their ability to gain human adaptations. The non-human mammal 2.3.4.4b H5N1 partly acquired classical human-adapting mutations , which are identical to the residues of H1N1pdm09 and seasonal human H3N2 viruses, while showing a few species-specific adaptations that might be potential barriers for successful human infections. The polymerase complex proteins , PA and PB2, acquired human adaptations in non-human mammals, with fox-infected viruses showing more positive selection in...
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Avian #Influenza in #Ireland: A Spatiotemporal, Subtype, and Host-Based Analysis (1983-2024)

By G.M.
Abstract Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a significant global concern, causing widespread mortality in wild birds, domestic poultry and most recently wild and domestic mammals . This study presents a retrospective analysis of AIV detections in the Republic of Ireland . Data was sourced from official surveillance databases, peer-reviewed literature and grey literature sources. Spatio-temporal, host-specific and subtype patterns were assessed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, linear regression and kernel density estimations. A total of 2,888 confirmed AIV detections were recorded from 25 of Ireland's 26 counties . Wild birds accounted for 98.7% of detections, with domestic birds comprising 1.3% and two detections in foxes . H5N1 was the most prevalent subtype (96.7%) followed by H5N8 and H6N1 . Spatial clustering was observed in urban areas, particularly Dublin . The highest seasonal peak occurred during summer, contrasting with traditional winter-associated patterns. Se...
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#Surveillance of Highly Pathogenic Avian #Influenza Virus in Wild #Canids from #Pennsylvania, #USA

By G.M.
Abstract The avian influenza virus is a global pathogen with significant health and economic implications. While primarily a pathogen of wild and domestic birds , recent outbreaks of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b have caused mortality in a wide variety of mammals , including members of the Canidae family , on multiple continents. Despite sporadic mortality events globally, the epidemiology and pathobiology of H5N1 HPAIV in wild canids remains poorly defined. During 2022–2024, 41 wild canid carcasses (diagnostic cases), including 23 red foxes and 18 gray foxes , were tested for the influenza A virus (IAV) via PCR, with five red fox kits testing positive (12%). Infected animals had variably severe encephalitis , pneumonia , and occasionally myocarditis associated with strong immunolabeling for IAV. Serum from 269 wild canids in Pennsylvania was tested for antibodies to IAV, including 133 samples collected prior to 2021 (pre-H5N1 HPAIV 2.3.4.4b in...
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Highly Pathogenic Avian #Influenza (HPAI) #H5N1 virus in #Finland in 2021-2023 – Genetic diversity of the viruses and infection kinetics in #human dendritic cells

By G.M.
Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is known for its virulence and zoonotic potential, infecting birds and mammals , thus raising public health concerns. Since 2021 its spread among birds has led to cross-species transmission causing epizootics among mammals, eventually impacting fur animal farms in Finland in 2023. To analyze the infectivity of the Finnish H5N1 isolates in human cells , representatives of diverse H5N1 isolates were selected based on the genetic differences, host animal species, and the year of occurrence. The infection kinetics of the selected H5N1 isolates from wild pheasant and fox , and fur animals blue fox and white mink were examined in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) with H5N1 human isolate as a control. Although the isolate from pheasant (a wild bird) showed weakly reduced replication and viral protein expression in human cells compared to mammalian isolates, no discernible differences in virus replication in moDCs was observed...
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