Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany

Abstract Transition of highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b H5 avian influenza virus (HPAIV) from epizootic to enzootic status in Northern European countries was associated with severe losses and even mass mortalities among various wild bird species. Both avian and mammalian raptors hunting infected deb...

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Main Authors: Anne Günther, Oliver Krone, Anja Globig, Anne Pohlmann, Jacqueline King, Christine Fast, Christian Grund, Christin Hennig, Christof Herrmann, Simon Piro, Dennis Rubbenstroth, Jana Schulz, Christoph Staubach, Lina Stacker, Lorenz Ulrich, Ute Ziegler, Timm Harder, Martin Beer
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79930-x
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author Anne Günther
Oliver Krone
Anja Globig
Anne Pohlmann
Jacqueline King
Christine Fast
Christian Grund
Christin Hennig
Christof Herrmann
Simon Piro
Dennis Rubbenstroth
Jana Schulz
Christoph Staubach
Lina Stacker
Lorenz Ulrich
Ute Ziegler
Timm Harder
Martin Beer
author_facet Anne Günther
Oliver Krone
Anja Globig
Anne Pohlmann
Jacqueline King
Christine Fast
Christian Grund
Christin Hennig
Christof Herrmann
Simon Piro
Dennis Rubbenstroth
Jana Schulz
Christoph Staubach
Lina Stacker
Lorenz Ulrich
Ute Ziegler
Timm Harder
Martin Beer
author_sort Anne Günther
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Transition of highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b H5 avian influenza virus (HPAIV) from epizootic to enzootic status in Northern European countries was associated with severe losses and even mass mortalities among various wild bird species. Both avian and mammalian raptors hunting infected debilitated birds or scavenging on virus-contaminated avian carcasses contracted HPAIV infection. This precarious pathogen-prey-predator relation further worsened when in 2021 and 2022 outbreaks in Germany overlapped with the hatching season of avian raptor species. Retro- and prospective surveillance revealed avian raptors as important indicators of HPAIV and its genetic diversity on the one hand. On the other hand, their role as victims of HPAIV is stipulated. The first case of an HPAIV H5N1-related death of a white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTSE) hatch in Germany, 2021, followed by several such cases in 2022, and a low overall seropositivity rate of 5.0–7.9% among WTSE nestlings, raised fears of a serious negative impact on reproduction rates of WTSEs and other birds of prey when HPAIV becomes enzootic in an ecosystem. However, comparably stable breeding success of WTSE in the study area in 2022 and a potentially evolving natural immunity raises hope for a less severe long-term impact.
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spelling doaj-art-146f8ecc371d4fcd851809206dff2eee2025-08-20T02:33:00ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-79930-xAvian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in GermanyAnne Günther0Oliver Krone1Anja Globig2Anne Pohlmann3Jacqueline King4Christine Fast5Christian Grund6Christin Hennig7Christof Herrmann8Simon Piro9Dennis Rubbenstroth10Jana Schulz11Christoph Staubach12Lina Stacker13Lorenz Ulrich14Ute Ziegler15Timm Harder16Martin Beer17Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthDepartment of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchInstitute of International Animal Health/One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthAgency for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Geology Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hiddensee Bird Ringing SchemeAgency for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Geology Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Nature Conservation DepartmentInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthAgency for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Geology Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hiddensee Bird Ringing SchemeInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthInstitute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthAbstract Transition of highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b H5 avian influenza virus (HPAIV) from epizootic to enzootic status in Northern European countries was associated with severe losses and even mass mortalities among various wild bird species. Both avian and mammalian raptors hunting infected debilitated birds or scavenging on virus-contaminated avian carcasses contracted HPAIV infection. This precarious pathogen-prey-predator relation further worsened when in 2021 and 2022 outbreaks in Germany overlapped with the hatching season of avian raptor species. Retro- and prospective surveillance revealed avian raptors as important indicators of HPAIV and its genetic diversity on the one hand. On the other hand, their role as victims of HPAIV is stipulated. The first case of an HPAIV H5N1-related death of a white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla; WTSE) hatch in Germany, 2021, followed by several such cases in 2022, and a low overall seropositivity rate of 5.0–7.9% among WTSE nestlings, raised fears of a serious negative impact on reproduction rates of WTSEs and other birds of prey when HPAIV becomes enzootic in an ecosystem. However, comparably stable breeding success of WTSE in the study area in 2022 and a potentially evolving natural immunity raises hope for a less severe long-term impact.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79930-xHighly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1White-tailed sea eagleHaliaeetus albicillaNestlingWild bird surveillanceMaternal immunity
spellingShingle Anne Günther
Oliver Krone
Anja Globig
Anne Pohlmann
Jacqueline King
Christine Fast
Christian Grund
Christin Hennig
Christof Herrmann
Simon Piro
Dennis Rubbenstroth
Jana Schulz
Christoph Staubach
Lina Stacker
Lorenz Ulrich
Ute Ziegler
Timm Harder
Martin Beer
Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
Scientific Reports
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1
White-tailed sea eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Nestling
Wild bird surveillance
Maternal immunity
title Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
title_full Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
title_fullStr Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
title_full_unstemmed Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
title_short Avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus HPAIV H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in Germany
title_sort avian raptors are indicator species and victims of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus hpaiv h5n1 clade 2 3 4 4b in germany
topic Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1
White-tailed sea eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Nestling
Wild bird surveillance
Maternal immunity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-79930-x
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