First Characterization of Avian Influenza Viruses from Greenland 2014.
In late February 2014, unusually high numbers of wild thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) were found dead on the coast of South Greenland. To investigate the cause of death, 45 birds were submitted for laboratory examination in Denmark. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) with subtypes H11N2 and low pathogenic H5N1 were detected in some of the birds. Characterization of the viruses by full genome sequencing revealed that all the gene segments belonged to the North American lineage of AIVs. The seemingly sparse and mixed subtype occurrence of low pathogenic AIVs in these birds, in addition to the emaciated appearance of the birds, suggests that the murre die-off was due to malnutrition as a result of sparse food availability or inclement weather. Here we present the first characterization of AIVs isolated in Greenland, and our results support the idea that wild birds in Greenland may be involved in the movement of AIV between North America and Europe.
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Christina Marie
CM
Hartby
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Jesper Schak
JS
Krog
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.|Arctic Environment, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
Flemming
F
Merkel
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Elisabeth
E
Holm
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Lars Erik
LE
Larsen
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Charlotte Kristiane
CK
Hjulsager
D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000821:virology*; D006116:Greenland; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny
Brünnich's guillemot; Greenland; H11N2; H5N1; Uria lomvia; intercontinental exchange of influenza virus; low pathogenic avian influenza virus; thick-billed murre