Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy
Avian influenza (AI), caused by <i>Alphainfluenzavirus</i> (family <i>Orthomyxoviridae</i>), poses significant threats to poultry, biodiversity, and public health. AI outbreaks in poultry lead to severe economic losses, while highly pathogenic strains (HPAIVs) severely impact...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Maria Cristina Rapi Ana Maria Moreno Martin Davide Lelli Antonio Lavazza Stefano Raimondi Marco Farioli Mario Chiari Guido Grilli |
| author_facet | Maria Cristina Rapi Ana Maria Moreno Martin Davide Lelli Antonio Lavazza Stefano Raimondi Marco Farioli Mario Chiari Guido Grilli |
| author_sort | Maria Cristina Rapi |
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| description | Avian influenza (AI), caused by <i>Alphainfluenzavirus</i> (family <i>Orthomyxoviridae</i>), poses significant threats to poultry, biodiversity, and public health. AI outbreaks in poultry lead to severe economic losses, while highly pathogenic strains (HPAIVs) severely impact wild bird populations, with implications for biodiversity and potential zoonotic risks. Similarly, arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are emerging zoonoses. WNV can cause severe neurological diseases in birds, humans, and other animals, while USUV significantly affects blackbird populations and has zoonotic potential, though human cases remain rare. This study investigated avian viruses in 1654 wild birds from 75 species that died at the Wildlife Rescue Center in Vanzago, Lombardy, during 2023–2024. Necropsies were conducted, and virological analyses were performed to detect avian influenza viruses, WNV, and USUV. Among the tested birds, 15 were positive for H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b, all in 2023, including 13 <i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus</i>, one <i>Coturnix coturnix</i>, and one <i>Columba palumbus</i>. Additionally, 16 tested positive for WNV (15 for lineage 2 and one for lineage 1), one for USUV, and 11 co-infections WNV/USUV were recorded in 2023–2024. These findings underscore the importance of avian viral passive surveillance in identifying epidemiological trends and preventing transmission to other species, including mammals and humans. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7df0ddce04a478ebb21657cf7ec8bc02025-08-20T01:56:38ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-04-0113595810.3390/microorganisms13050958Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, ItalyMaria Cristina Rapi0Ana Maria Moreno Martin1Davide Lelli2Antonio Lavazza3Stefano Raimondi4Marco Farioli5Mario Chiari6Guido Grilli7Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini” (IZSLER), Via Antonio Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini” (IZSLER), Via Antonio Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini” (IZSLER), Via Antonio Bianchi 7/9, 25124 Brescia, ItalyCentro Recupero Fauna Selvatica (CRAS)—“Bosco WWF di Vanzago”, Via delle 3 Campane, 20043 Vanzago, ItalyS.C. Animali, Ambiente e One Health, Dipartimento Veterinario e Sicurezza degli Alimenti di Origine Animale, ATS Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi 9, 21100 Varese, ItalyU.O. Veterinaria, Direzione Generale Welfare, Regione Lombardia, Piazza Città di Lombardia 1, 20124 Milano, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, ItalyAvian influenza (AI), caused by <i>Alphainfluenzavirus</i> (family <i>Orthomyxoviridae</i>), poses significant threats to poultry, biodiversity, and public health. AI outbreaks in poultry lead to severe economic losses, while highly pathogenic strains (HPAIVs) severely impact wild bird populations, with implications for biodiversity and potential zoonotic risks. Similarly, arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are emerging zoonoses. WNV can cause severe neurological diseases in birds, humans, and other animals, while USUV significantly affects blackbird populations and has zoonotic potential, though human cases remain rare. This study investigated avian viruses in 1654 wild birds from 75 species that died at the Wildlife Rescue Center in Vanzago, Lombardy, during 2023–2024. Necropsies were conducted, and virological analyses were performed to detect avian influenza viruses, WNV, and USUV. Among the tested birds, 15 were positive for H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b, all in 2023, including 13 <i>Chroicocephalus ridibundus</i>, one <i>Coturnix coturnix</i>, and one <i>Columba palumbus</i>. Additionally, 16 tested positive for WNV (15 for lineage 2 and one for lineage 1), one for USUV, and 11 co-infections WNV/USUV were recorded in 2023–2024. These findings underscore the importance of avian viral passive surveillance in identifying epidemiological trends and preventing transmission to other species, including mammals and humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/958avian influenzaWest Nile virusUsutu virusH5N1HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4bwild birds |
| spellingShingle | Maria Cristina Rapi Ana Maria Moreno Martin Davide Lelli Antonio Lavazza Stefano Raimondi Marco Farioli Mario Chiari Guido Grilli Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy Microorganisms avian influenza West Nile virus Usutu virus H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b wild birds |
| title | Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy |
| title_full | Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy |
| title_fullStr | Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy |
| title_short | Virological Passive Surveillance of Avian Influenza and Arboviruses in Wild Birds: A Two-Year Study (2023–2024) in Lombardy, Italy |
| title_sort | virological passive surveillance of avian influenza and arboviruses in wild birds a two year study 2023 2024 in lombardy italy |
| topic | avian influenza West Nile virus Usutu virus H5N1 HPAIV clade 2.3.4.4b wild birds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/958 |
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