#Kazakhstan - #Influenza A #H5 viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Immediate notification [FINAL]

{Greylag Goose}

{Mallards}

A Greylag Goose, two Mallards  in Aqmola Region.

Source: 

Link: https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/7093

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Study of the 16S #microbiome of #swans died during the #H5N1 #outbreak in the #Caspian seashore

Abstract

Introduction: 

In 2023 and 2024, mass mortalities of swans occurred on the Caspian coast of Kazakhstan, which affected more than seven hundred birds of a local population of 10–15 thousand. It is widely known that viral infections significantly affect the microbiome content of various organisms, but the influence of H5N1 infection in the gut microbiota of wild birds remains little studied. Almost no information is available on postmortem microbial changes after the devastating impact of H5N1 influenza.

Methods: 

In addition to standard routine virological studies, we were interested in investigating the microbiological changes resulting from infection with the highly pathogenic H5N1 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results: 

Virological studies of samples taken from the dead swans identified the highly pathogenic influenza virus H5N1 subtype as the primary cause of mortality. 16S analysis of samples from freshly dead swans revealed patterns of microbial dysbiosis caused by the overwhelming dominance of Campylobacter and Fusobacterium genera in the microbiome.

iscussion: 

Unlike previous fecal microbiome studies in live H5N1-infected birds, this is the first post-mortem analysis revealing systemic dysbiosis across respiratory and digestive tracts in swans, dominated by Campylobacter (mean 74.7% ± 19.3) and Fusobacterium (mean 15.9% ± 12.2).

Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences, https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1597890/full

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#Genetic Characterization of #Kazakhstan Isolates: Avian #Influenza #H9N2 Viruses Demonstrate Their Potential to Infect #Mammals

Abstract

Low pathogenic H9N2 avian influenza viruses have become widespread in wild birds and poultry worldwide, raising concerns about their potential to spark pandemics or their role in enhancing the virulence and infectivity of H5Nx viruses through genetic reassortment. Therefore, influenza monitoring studies, including those of H9N2 viruses, are crucial for understanding, evaluating, and mitigating the risks associated with avian infections, and have broader implications for global public health. Although H9N2 viruses are not considered enzootic in Kazakhstan, they have been repeatedly detected in wild waterfowls and domestic poultry. In this study, all eight gene segments of influenza A/H9N2 viruses isolated in various regions of Kazakhstan between 2014 and 2020 were sequenced and analyzed. Molecular characterization revealed the presence of genetic markers associated with mammalian infectivity and disease potential. Furthermore, their predicted receptor binding site sequences indicate their potential capacity to attach to human-type receptors. These findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance and molecular investigation to better understand the evolution and zoonotic potential of H9N2 viruses in Kazakhstan.

Source: Viruses, https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/685

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