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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b Infections in Seals, Russia, 2023
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|September 6, 2024
Summary
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was found in dead seals in Russia. The detected viruses are closely related to those found in the Russian Far East and Japan.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Wildlife Disease Ecology
Background:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) poses a significant threat to both avian and mammalian populations.
- Surveillance of influenza A(H5N1) in wildlife is crucial for understanding virus evolution and transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the detection and characterization of avian influenza A(H5N1) in marine mammals.
- To determine the genetic relationship of the seal-detected viruses to contemporary influenza A(H5N1) strains.
Main Methods:
- Detection of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in deceased seals using molecular methods.
- Viral genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to determine clade and relationship to other isolates.
Main Results:
- Avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was identified in dead northern fur seals on Tyuleniy Island, Sea of Okhotsk, Russia.
- The isolated viruses belong to clade 2.3.4.4b.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed close relatedness to viruses detected in the Russian Far East and Japan during 2022-2023.
Conclusions:
- This finding highlights the susceptibility of marine mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1).
- The genetic data suggests potential cross-species transmission and highlights the ongoing circulation of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses in the region.
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