ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have high value for research, conservation, agriculture, and recreation and might be key SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs . In November 2023, we sampled 15 female deer in a captive facility in Texas, USA . All deer had neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 ; respiratory swab samples from 11 deer were SARS-CoV-2–positive by quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and 1 deer also had a positive rectal swab sample . Six of the 11 respiratory swab samples yielded infectious virus; replication kinetics of most samples displayed lower growth 24–48 hours postinfection in vitro than Omicron lineages isolated from humans in Texas in the same period. Virus growth was similar between groups by 72 hours, suggesting no strong attenuation of deer-derived virus. All deer viruses clustered in XBB Omicron clade and demonstrated more mutations than expected compared with contemporaneous viruses in humans, suggesting that crossing the species barrier was accompani...

Abstract Seasonal and pandemic influenzas are continuous threats to human health, requiring rapid development of vaccines to multiple evolving viral strains. New RNA vaccine technologies have the adaptability and manufacturability to facilitate pandemic preparedness but have limited flexibility in their route of administration, reducing the ability to establish local protective immune responses such as respiratory mucosal immunity. Here, we describe monovalent and bivalent self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines against A/Vietnam/1203/2004 H5N1 and A/Anhui/2013 H7N9. These saRNA vaccines express either H5 or H7 hemagglutinin and are formulated with a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) that permits both intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) dosing. In mice , IM vaccination established systemic humoral and cellular responses but no detectable mucosal response , while IN administration induced robust systemic and mucosal immunity . The saRNA-NLC vaccines provided complete protection against...

Abstract H5Nx viruses continue to wreak havoc in avian and mammalian species worldwide. The virus distinguishes itself by the ability to replicate to high titers and transmit efficiently in a wide variety of hosts in diverse climatic environments. Fortunately, transmission to and between humans is scarce . Yet, if such an event were to occur, it could spark a pandemic as humans are immunologically naive to H5 viruses. A significant determinant of transmission to and between humans is the ability of the influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein to shift from an avian-type to a human-type receptor specificity . Here, we demonstrate that a 2016 2.3.4.4e virus HA can convert to human-type receptor binding via a single Q226L mutation , in contrast to a cleavage-modified 2016 2.3.4.4b virus HA . Using glycan arrays, x-ray structural analyses, tissue- and direct glycan binding, we show that L133adelta and 227Q are vital for this phenotype. Thus, whereas the 2.3.4.4e virus HA only needs a s...

Waterford Township, Mich. – The Oakland County Health Division is monitoring a situation involving highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, identified in animals at the farm at Hess-Hathaway Park in Waterford Township.  |--     Eleven individuals who had direct contact with the animals are being         monitored    for 10 days, beginning yesterday. --| Initially, it was reported that two of the 11 are experiencing flu-like symptoms . Since then, the Health Division has learned that only one individual has symptoms . That person’s influenza test has been collected and results from the state lab are pending . “The risk of contracting bird flu is very low for the general public , but it’s important to be aware of the disease in the community,” said Oakland County Director of Health and Human Services Leigh-Anne Stafford. “Protect yourself and prevent bird flu by avoiding direct contact with sick or dead bi...

Executive Summary   The first ever National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States (NOHF-Zoonoses), 2025-2029, establishes a structure to facilitate multisectoral and transdisciplinary coordination, collaboration, and communication across the federal government .  Using the One Health approach , the framework addresses zoonotic diseases and other priority One Health issues in the United States (U.S.).  The One Health approach recognizes the interdependence of the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants , and the wider environment (including ecosystems).  This approach mobilizes multiple diverse sectors , disciplines, and communities to work together to promote well-being and address health and ecosystem threats.  Previous multisectoral work in the U.S . identified the critical need to formalize federal One Health coordination to address zoonotic diseases and other One Health relat...

ABSTRACT The tonsils have been identified as a site of replication for Epstein–Barr virus, adenovirus, human papillomavirus, and other respiratory viruses. Human tonsil epithelial cells ( HTECs ) are a heterogeneous group of actively differentiating cells . Here, we investigated the cellular features and susceptibility of differentiated HTECs to specific influenza viruses , including expression of avian-type and mammalian-type sialic acid (SA) receptors , viral replication dynamics, and the associated cytokine secretion profiles. We found that differentiated HTECs possess more abundant α2,3-linked SA (preferentially bound by avian influenza viruses ) than α2,6-linked SA (preferentially bound by mammalian strains ). This dual receptor expression suggests a role in influenza virus adaptation and tropism within the tonsils by facilitating the binding and entry of multiple influenza virus strains. Our results indicated the susceptibility of differentiated HTECs to a wide range of influenza...

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A 28-year-old man from southeast Cambodia's Kampong Cham province died of H5N1 human avian influenza on Friday, becoming the first death in 2025, the Ministry of Health said in a press statement. "Laboratory results from the National Institute of Public Health showed on Jan. 9, 2025 that the man was positive for H5N1 virus," the statement said. "Although our team of doctors had provided him intensive care , the patient died on Jan. 10, 2025 due to his severe condition , with the symptoms of fever, cough, and dyspnea ," it added. The patient lived in village 22 in Chamkar Leu district's Chamkar Andoung commune. "According to queries , the patient raised and fed chicken , and he cooked sick chicken for food," the statement said. Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the c...

 A wild sanderling in Oostende. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6175 _____

ABSTRACT Objectives Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses an occupational risk for poultry workers, responders, and others in contact with infected birds. The objective of this analysis was to describe HPAI surveillance methods and outcomes , and highlight the challenges, successes, and lessons learned during the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH’s) public health response to HPAI outbreaks in Minnesota poultry flocks in the years 2015 and 2022–2023. Methods During both outbreaks, MDH staff attempted to contact all potentially exposed people and conduct a standardized interview . People were considered exposed and at risk if they had entered a barn with poultry on any HPAI test-positive premises. With their consent, exposed persons were entered into illness monitoring until 10 days from their last exposure. In 2015, MDH monitored the health of poultry workers only. In the 2022–2023 response, MDH monitored the health of poultry workers, backyard flock owners, responders, and...

Abstract The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows has created public health concerns about the potential of consumers being exposed to live virus from commercial dairy products. Previous studies support that pasteurization effectively inactivates avian influenza in milk and an earlier retail milk survey showed viral RNA, but no live virus could be detected in the dairy products tested. Because of the variety of products and processing methods in which milk is used, additional product testing was conducted to determine if HPAI viral RNA could be detected in retail dairy samples, and for positive samples by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) further testing for the presence of live virus. Revised protocols were developed to extract RNA from solid dairy products including cheese and butter . The solid dairy product was mechanically liquified with garnet and zirconium beads in a bead beater diluted 1–4 with BHI media. This preprocessing step was su...

Abstract In recent years, infection cases of H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in wild mammals have increased globally. To obtain recent epidemiological information regarding influenza A virus (IAV) infection in raccoons (Procyon lotor), the prevalence of anti-IAV antibodies in sera was analyzed among raccoons captured in Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan , from 2019 to 2023. Screening of serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agar gel precipitation test detected anti-IAV antibodies in 5 of 114 (4.4 %) raccoons. All positive sera were from raccoons captured from 2022 to 2023. The hemagglutination inhibition test revealed that all five serum samples contained anti-H5 subtype HPAIV antibodies, and one also contained anti-H1 subtype antibodies . The neuraminidase inhibition test revealed that all five sera contained anti-N1 subtype antibodies, and one also contained anti-N8 subtype antibodies . In the virus neutralization test, these five ser...

Abstract Zoonotic transmission of avian influenza viruses into mammals is relatively rare due to anatomical differences in the respiratory tract between species. Recently, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses were detected circulating in North American cattle. Sporadic transmission between cattle, humans, and other animals proximal to cattle or after consuming products from infected cattle has occurred, but thus far there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission . However, the virus has the potential to adapt to the mammalian respiratory tract with every transmission event that occurs, making it crucial to understand cellular and species tropism of the H5N1 2.3.4.4b viruses. We compared viral kinetics of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses isolated from birds and mammals in respiratory epithelial cells derived from cattle, human, swine, and ferret. We found that avian derived viruses could replicate in swine cells only , yet mammalian derived strains could replicate ef...

Abstract Emerging infectious diseases are of major concern to animal and human health . Recent emergence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) led to substantial global mortality across a range of host species . Co-occurring species showed marked differences in mortality, generating an urgent need for better epidemiological understanding within affected populations. We therefore tested for antibodies , indicative of previous exposure and recovery, and for active viral infection in apparently healthy individuals (n = 350) across five co-occurring seabird species on the Isle of May, Scotland , during 2023, following H5N1 HPAIV associated mortality in the preceding summer. Antibody prevalence to AIV subtypes varied substantially between species, ranging from 1.1% in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) (to H5 ) to 78.7% in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) (to H16 or both H13 and H16 ), and between 31 and 41% for three auk species ( H5, H16 or ...

 {Original text in Icelandic, translated, edited.} The Icelandic University of Iceland's Pathology Laboratory at Keldur notified the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority on January 6 that a kitten that arrived at the laboratory for autopsy had been diagnosed with a severe strain of avian influenza (H5N5).  This is the same strain that has been detected in wild birds in Iceland since September last year and on one poultry farm in early December.  The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority immediately issued instructions for disease control to prevent the spread of the infection and is now working to trace the infection .  Symptoms of the disease in this cat included loss of appetite, weakness, stiffness, tremors, seizures and other neurological symptoms .  Cat owners are asked to contact a veterinarian immediately if they notice such symptoms in their cats. The cat diagnosed with bird flu was a 10-week-old kitten that died on December 22. The littermate the k...

{Excerpt} Our data indicate that bovine H5N1 viruses can replicate efficiently in the epithelium of the bovine teat cistern, suggesting that they invade the mammary gland through the teat canal , which is more easily accessed by viruses. H5N1 virus is thought to be transmitted among lactating dairy cattle through contaminated milking equipment and/or milker's hands during milking[23]. Proper milking procedures are required to prevent spread of HPAI H5N1 viruses in dairy cattle, thereby minimizing the risk of transmission from cows to other mammals including humans . Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections,  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2025.2450029#d1e346 _____

Backyard reared poultry in Camarines Norte Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6167 ______

Three cats (one adult female and two 10 week old kittens) from the same household died on December 20., 21. and 22. after they had been ill for only a few days . The main clinical signs were lethargy, anorexia, cramps and stiffness . Other kittens from the same litter had been rehomed before those three got sick and they have not shown any symptoms. The most probable source of infection is wild birds . HPAI H5N5 have been diagnosed in a few wild birds in Iceland since September last year. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6168 ____

 A wild Northern Fulmar in Danish Exclusive Economic Zone (Greenland). Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6172 _____

Abstract Crocodilians are susceptible to a range of virus infection including influenza A virus (IAV). However, little is known about the ecology and epidemiology of IAV in crocodile species. This study aimed to investigate IAV infection in farmed Siamese crocodiles in central Thailand . We collected plasma samples and pharyngeal swab samples from Siamese crocodiles residing in 13 crocodile farms in 9 provinces of central Thailand during 2019. Additional archival plasma samples of Siamese crocodiles collected in 2012 and 2018 were also included in the study. Plasma samples were screened for influenza A antibodies by a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and positive were evaluated by a cytopathic effect/hemagglutination based- microneutralization (MN) assay . Swab samples were tested for influenza viral RNA by a real-time RT-PCR assay targeting the influenza matrix (M) gene. Among 246 tested plasma samples, the overall seroprevalence of antibodies against IAV in farmed Siamese croco...

Abstract Migratory water birds are considered to be carriers of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs). In Japan , mallards are often observed during winter, and HPAIV-infected mallards often shed viruses asymptomatically. In this study, we focused on mallards as potential carriers of HPAIVs and investigated whether individual wild mallards are repeatedly infected with HPAIVs and act as HPAIV carriers multiple times within a season. Mallards were experimentally infected with H5N1 and H5N8 HPAIVs that were isolated recently in Japan and phylogenetically belong to different hemagglutinin groups ( G2a, G2b, and G2d ). All of these strains are more infectious to mallards than to chickens, and the infected mallards shed enough virus to infect others, regardless of whether they exhibited clinical signs. Serum antibodies to the homologous antigen, induced by a single infection with a low virus dose (10 times the 50% mallard infectious dose), were maintained at detectable levels f...