Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in wild birds during outbreaks in domestic poultry, Minnesota, 2015
Christopher S. Jennelle, Michelle Carstensen, Erik C. Hildebrand, Louis Cornicelli, Paul C. Wolf, Daniel A. Grear, S. Ip, Kaci K. VanDalen, Larissa A. Minicucci
2016, Emerging Infectious Diseases (22) 1278-1282
In 2015, a major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection devastated poultry facilities in Minnesota, USA. To clarify the role of wild birds, we tested 3,139 waterfowl fecal samples and 104 sick and dead birds during March 9–June 4, 2015. HPAIV was isolated from a Cooper’s hawk...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and generation of novel reassortants,United States, 2014–2015
Dong-Hun Lee, Justin Bahl, Mia Kim Torchetti, Mary Lea Killian, S. Ip, David E Swayne
2016, Emerging Infectious Diseases (22) 1283-1285
Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) viruses spread into North America in 2014 during autumn bird migration. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 32 H5 viruses identified novel H5N1, H5N2, and H5N8 viruses that emerged in late 2014 through reassortment with North American low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses....
Movement analysis of free-grazing domestic ducks in Poyang Lake, China: A disease connection
Diann J. Prosser, Eric C. Palm, John Y. Takekawa, Delong Zhao, Xiangming Xiao, Peng Li, Ying Liu, Scott H. Newman
2016, International Journal of Geographical Information Science (30) 869-880
Previous work suggests domestic poultry are important contributors to the emergence and transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza throughout Asia. In Poyang Lake, China, domestic duck production cycles are synchronized with arrival and departure of thousands of migratory wild birds in the area. During these periods, high densities of juvenile...
Serologic evidence of influenza A (H14) virus introduction into North America
Neus Latorre-Margalef, Andrew M. Ramey, Alinde Fojtik, David E. Stallknecht
2015, Emerging Infectious Diseases (21) 2257-2259
Although a diverse population of influenza A viruses (IAVs) is maintained among ducks, geese, shorebirds, and gulls, not all of the 16 avian hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes are equally represented (1). The 14th HA subtype, commonly known as the H14 subtype, was historically limited to isolates from the former Soviet Union...
Avian influenza ecology in North Atlantic sea ducks: Not all ducks are created equal
Jeffrey S. Hall, Robin E. Russell, J. Christian Franson, Catherine Soos, Robert J. Dusek, R. Bradford Allen, Sean W. Nashold, Joshua L. Teslaa, Jon Einar Jonsson, Jennifer R. Ballard, Naomi Jnae Harms, Justin D. Brown
2015, PLoS ONE (10) 1-16
Wild waterfowl are primary reservoirs of avian influenza viruses (AIV). However the role of sea ducks in the ecology of avian influenza, and how that role differs from freshwater ducks, has not been examined. We obtained and analyzed sera from North Atlantic sea ducks and determined the seroprevalence in those...
Wild bird surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in North America
Paul L. Flint, John M. Pearce, J. Christian Franson, Dirk V. Derksen
2015, Virology Journal (12) 1-6
It is unknown how the current Asian origin highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 viruses arrived, but these viruses are now poised to become endemic in North America. Wild birds harbor these viruses and have dispersed them at regional scales. What is unclear is how the viruses may be moving from...
Avian influenza H5N1 viral and bird migration networks in Asia
Huaivu Tian, Sen Zhou, Lu Dong, Thomas P. Van Boeckel, Yujun Cui, Scott H. Newman, John Y. Takekawa, Diann J. Prosser, Xiangming Xiao, Yarong Wu, Bernard Cazelles, Shanqian Huang, Ruifu Yang, Bryan T. Grenfell, Bing Xu
2015, PNAS (112) 172-177
The spatial spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 and its long-term persistence in Asia have resulted in avian influenza panzootics and enormous economic losses in the poultry sector. However, an understanding of the regional long-distance transmission and seasonal patterns of the virus is still lacking. In this...
USGS highly pathogenic avian influenza research strategy
M. Camille Harris, A. Keith Miles, John M. Pearce, Diann J. Prosser, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Mary E. Whalen
2015, Fact Sheet 2015-3060
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating...
USGS role and response to highly pathogenic avian influenza
M. Camille Harris, A. Keith Miles, John M. Pearce, Diann J. Prosser, Jonathan M. Sleeman, Mary E. Whalen
2015, Fact Sheet 2015-3059
Avian influenza viruses are naturally occurring in wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans, and gulls. These viruses generally do not cause illness in wild birds, however, when spread to poultry they can be highly pathogenic and cause illness and death in backyard and commercial farms. Outbreaks may cause devastating...
Demographic and spatiotemporal patterns of avian influenza infection at the continental scale, and in relation to annual life cycle of a migratory host
Rodolfo Nallar, Zsuzsanna Papp, Tasha Epp, Frederick A. Leighton, Seth R. Swafford, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Robert J. Dusek, S. Ip, Jeffrey S. Hall, Yohannes Berhane, Samantha E.J. Gibbs, Catherine Soos
2015, PLoS ONE (10)
Since the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the eastern hemisphere, numerous surveillance programs and studies have been undertaken to detect the occurrence, distribution, or spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in wild bird populations worldwide. To identify demographic determinants and spatiotemporal patterns of AIV infection in...
Rapidly expanding range of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses
Jeffrey S. Hall, Robert J. Dusek, Erica Spackman
2015, Emerging Infectious Diseases (21) 1251-1252
The movement of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) virus across Eurasia and into North America and the virus’ propensity to reassort with co-circulating low pathogenicity viruses raise concerns among poultry producers, wildlife biologists, aviculturists, and public health personnel worldwide. Surveillance, modeling, and experimental research will provide the knowledge required for...
Global trends in emerging viral diseases of wildlife origin
Jonathan M. Sleeman, S. Ip
2015, Conference Paper, Emerging viral dieases: the One Health connection: workshop summary
Fifty years ago, infectious diseases were rarely considered threats to wildlife populations, and the study of wildlife diseases was largely a neglected endeavor. Furthermore, public health leaders at that time had declared that “it is time to close the book on infectious diseases and the war against pestilence won,” a quote attributed to Dr....
Intercontinental spread of asian-origin H5N8 to North America through Beringia by migratory birds
Dong-Hun Lee, Mia Kim Torchetti, Kevin Winker, S. Ip, David E. Swayne, Chang-Seon Song
2015, Journal of Virology (89) 6521-6524
Phylogenetic network analysis and understanding of waterfowl migration patterns suggest the Eurasian H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza virus emerged in late 2013 in China, spread in early 2014 to South Korea and Japan, and reached Siberia and Beringia by summer 2014 via migratory birds. Three genetically distinct subgroups emerged and...
The dynamics of avian influenza in western Arctic snow geese: implications for annual and migratory infection patterns
Michael D. Samuel, Jeffrey S. Hall, Justin D. Brown, Diana R. Goldberg, S. Ip, Vasily V. Baranyuk
2015, Ecological Applications (25) 1851-1859
Wild water birds are the natural reservoir for low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIV). However, our ability to investigate the epizootiology of AIV in these migratory populations is challenging, and despite intensive worldwide surveillance, remains poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis in Pacific Flyway lesser snow geese Chen caerulescens...
Sampling of sea ducks for influenza A viruses in Alaska during winter provides lack of evidence for epidemiological peak of infection.
Andrew M. Ramey, Andrew B. Reeves, Rebecca L. Poulson, Jeff Wasley, Daniel Esler, David E. Stalknecht
2015, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (51) 938-941
Sampling of sea ducks for influenza A viruses in Alaska during winter provided no evidence for an epidemiologic peak of infection. Isolates were recovered, however, that provide information on viral diversity and dispersal that may not be realized through sampling efforts focused on other avian taxa....
Novel H5 clade 2.3.4.4 reassortant (H5N1) virus from a green-winged teal in Washington, USA
Mia Kim Torchetti, Mary-Lea Killian, Robert J. Dusek, Janice C. Pedersen, Nichole Hines, Barbara L. Bodenstein, C. LeAnn White, S. Ip
2015, Genome Announcements (3)
Eurasian (EA)-origin H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4 avian influenza viruses were first detected in North America during December 2014. Subsequent reassortment with North American (AM) low-pathogenic wild-bird-origin avian influenza has generated at least two reassortants, including an EA/AM H5N1 from an apparently healthy wild green-winged teal, suggesting continued ongoing reassortment....
Novel Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses in wild birds, Washington, USA, 2014
S. Ip, Mia Kim Torchetti, Rocio Crespo, Paul Kohrs, Paul DeBruyn, Kristin G. Mansfield, Timothy Baszler, Lyndon Badcoe, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Mary L. Killian, Janice C. Pederson, Nichole Hines, Thomas Gidlewski, Thomas J. DeLiberto, Jonathan M. Sleeman
2015, Emerging Infectious Diseases (21) 886-890
Novel Eurasian lineage avian influenza A(H5N8) virus has spread rapidly and globally since January 2014. In December 2014, H5N8 and reassortant H5N2 viruses were detected in wild birds in Washington, USA, and subsequently in backyard birds. When they infect commercial poultry, these highly pathogenic viruses pose substantial trade issues....
Intercontinental genetic structure and gene flow in Dunlin (Calidris alpina), a potential vector of avian influenza
Mark P. Miller, Susan M. Haig, Thomas D. Mullins, Luzhang Ruan, Bruce Casler, Alexei Dondua, H. River Gates, J. Matthew Johnson, Steven J. Kendall, Pavel S. Tomkovich, Diane Tracy, Olga P. Valchuk, Richard B. Lanctot
2015, Evolutionary Applications (8) 149-171
Waterfowl (Anseriformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes) are the most common wild vectors of influenza A viruses. Due to their migratory behavior, some may transmit disease over long distances. Migratory connectivity studies can link breeding and nonbreeding grounds while illustrating potential interactions among populations that may spread diseases. We investigated Dunlin (Calidris...
Avian Influenza spread and transmission dynamics
Lydia Bourouiba, Stephen A. Gourley, Rongsong Liu, John Y. Takekawa, Jianhong Wu
Dongmei Chen, Bernard Moulin, Jianhong Wu, editor(s)
2015, Book chapter, Analyzing and modeling spatial and temporal dynamics of infectious diseases
The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of type A of subtype H5N1 has been a serious threat to global public health. Understanding the roles of various (migratory, wild, poultry) bird species in the transmission of these viruses is critical for designing and implementing effective control and intervention...
Cyclic avian mass mortality in the northeastern United States is associated with a novel orthomyxovirus
Andrew B. Allison, Jennifer R. Ballard, Robert B. Tesh, Justin D. Brown, Mark G. Ruder, M. Kevin Keel, Brandon A. Munk, Randall M. Mickley, Samantha E.J. Gibbs, Julie C. Ellis, Amelia P.A. Travassos da Rosac, S. Ip, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Matthew B. Rogers, Elodie Gheldin, Edward C. Holmes, Colin R. Parrish, Chris P. Dwyer
2015, Journal of Virology (89) 1389-1403
Since 1998, cyclic mortality events in common eiders (Somateria mollissima), numbering in the hundreds to thousands of dead birds, have been documented along the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Although longitudinal disease investigations have uncovered potential contributing factors responsible for these outbreaks, detecting a primary etiological agent has proven...
Satellite tracking of the migration of Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus wintering in Japan
Tetsuo Shimada, Noriyuki M. Yamaguchi, N. Hijikata, Emiko N. Hiraoka, Jerry W. Hupp, Paul L. Flint, Ken-ichi Tokita, Go Fujita, Kiyoshi Uchida, F. Sato, Masayuki Kurechi, John M. Pearce, Andrew M. Ramey, Hiroyoshi Higuchi
2014, Ornithological Science (13) 67-75
We satellite-tracked Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus wintering in northern Japan to document their migration routes and timing, and to identify breeding areas. From 47 swans that we marked at Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Honshu, and at Lake Kussharo, east Hokkaido, we observed 57 spring and 33 autumn migrations from...
Evidence for seasonal patterns in the relative abundance of avian influenza virus subtypes in blue-winged teal (Anas discors)
Andrew M. Ramey, Rebecca L. Poulson, Ana S. González-Reiche, Benjamin R. Wilcox, Patrick Walther, Paul Link, Deborah L. Carter, George M. Newsome, Maria L. Muller, Roy D. Berghaus, Daniel R. Perez, Jeffrey S. Hall, David E. Stallknecht
2014, Journal of Wildlife Diseases (50) 916-922
Seasonal dynamics of influenza A viruses (IAVs) are driven by host density and population immunity. Through an analysis of subtypic data for IAVs isolated from Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors), we present evidence for seasonal patterns in the relative abundance of viral subtypes in spring and summer/autumn....
Microbial water quality during the northern migration of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) at the central Platte River, Nebraska
Matthew T. Moser
2014, Fact Sheet 2014-3094
The central Platte River is an important resource in Nebraska. Its water flows among multiple channels and supports numerous beneficial uses such as drinking water, irrigation for agriculture, groundwater recharge, and recreational activities. The central Platte River valley is an important stopover for migratory waterfowl and cranes, such as the...
Avian influenza virus ecology in Iceland shorebirds: intercontinental reassortment and movement
Jeffrey S. Hall, Gunnar Thor Hallgrimsson, Kamol Suwannanarn, Srinand Sreevatsen, S. Ip, Joshua L. TeSlaa, Sean W. Nashold, Robert J. Dusek
2014, Infection, Genetics and Evolution (28) 130-136
Shorebirds are a primary reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIV). We conducted surveillance studies in Iceland shorebird populations for 3 years, documenting high serological evidence of AIV exposure in shorebirds, primarily in Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres; seroprevalence = 75%). However, little evidence of virus infection was found in these shorebird...
Bird migration and avian influenza: a comparison of hydrogen stable isotopes and satellite tracking methods
Eli S. Bridge, Jeffrey F. Kelly, Xiangming Xiao, John Y. Takekawa, Nichola J. Hill, Mat Yamage, Enam Ul Haque, Mohammad Anwarul Islam, Taej Mundkur, Kiraz Erciyas Yavuz, Paul Leader, Connie Y.H. Leung, Bena Smith, Kyle A. Spragens, Kurt J. Vandegrift, Parviez R. Hosseini, Samia Saif, Samiul Mohsanin, Andrea Mikolon, Ausrafal Islam, Acty George, Balachandran Sivananinthaperumal, Peter Daszak, Scott H. Newman
2014, Ecological Indicators (45) 266-273
Satellite-based tracking of migratory waterfowl is an important tool for understanding the potential role of wild birds in the long-distance transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, employing this technique on a continental scale is prohibitively expensive. This study explores the utility of stable isotope ratios in feathers in examining...
