Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza in migratory shorebirds at the terminus of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if migratory birds arriving in New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere spring of 2004 were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus, H5N1.


METHODS
Cloacal and faecal samples were collected from migratory red knots following their arrival in New Zealand in October 2004. Two species of resident sympatric birds, wrybill and mallard duck, were sampled prior to, and following, the arrival of migratory birds.


RESULTS
No AI viruses were isolated from migratory or resident shorebirds. Non-pathogenic AI viruses were isolated from six resident mallard ducks, comprising the endemic subtypes H4 (n=2), H7 (non-pathogenic), H10, and H11 (n=2).


CONCLUSIONS
Highly pathogenic AI H5N1 virus was not detected in migratory shorebirds or sympatric water birds in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand, in 2004-2005, despite the possible proximity of migratory birds to outbreaks of the disease in East Asia in 2004.
Langstaff
I G
IG
EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. ilangstaff@animalhealthaustralia.com.au
McKenzie
J S
JS
Stanislawek
W L
WL
Reed
C E M
CE
Poland
R
R
Cork
S C
SC
D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary*