ETIDIOH - NEW

  Abstract Wild migratory birds play a major role in the global spread of viruses, yet the diversity, host range and transmission patterns of viruses harboured by migratory species in Aotearoa/New Zealand remain largely unknown . This knowledge gap is critical given New Zealand's position along major migratory flyways spanning Oceania, Antarctica and east Asia , where understanding viral diversity is key to assessing the risk of viral introductions such as highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and viral dispersal across these regions. To address this, we conducted the first large-scale metatranscriptomic survey of wild birds from New Zealand and its subantarctic islands , collecting 1,348 samples from 31 host species spanning four avian orders . We identified 118 avian viruses from 17 families , including 107 novel species , greatly expanding our knowledge of avian viral diversity. Viral communities differed significantly by host order and foraging behaviour, with scavenger birds...

  Abstract H7 high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) virus outbreaks can cause high rates of morbidity and mortality in poultry flocks , leading to devastating impacts on poultry industries. In December 2024 , an HPAI virus was detected on a poultry farm in New Zealand , being the first time a case of HPAI was reported in the country. Whole-genome sequencing, subtyping, phylogenetic, and mutation analyses were performed to characterize the virus. Results indicated a novel high-pathogenicity H7N6 avian influenza virus arose through a reassortment event between endemic low-pathogenicity H4N6 and H7 viruses, followed by two mutations at the H7 gene cleavage site . Mutation analysis suggests the novel H7N6 virus exhibits increased risk of host specificity shift , but further work is required to fully understand the functional impacts of the detected mutational events. In this instance, a timely biosecurity response was effective in eliminating the virus and preventing its transmissi...

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 has never been detected in New Zealand . The potential impact of this virus on New Zealand's wild birds would be catastrophic. To expand our knowledge of avian influenza viruses across New Zealand, we sampled wild aquatic birds from New Zealand, its outer islands and its subantarctic territories. Metatranscriptomic analysis of 700 individuals spanning 33 species revealed no detection of H5N1 during the annual 2023-2024 migration. A single detection of H1N9 in red knots (Calidris canutus) was noted. This study provides a baseline for expanding avian influenza virus monitoring in New Zealand. Source: US National Library of Medicine,  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40148670/ ____