Surveillance for highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus in synanthropic wildlife associated with poultry farms during an acute outbreak.
In November 2014, a Eurasian strain H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected in poultry in Canada. Introduced viruses were soon detected in the United States and within six months had spread to 21 states with more than 48 million poultry affected. In an effort to study potential mechanisms of spread of the Eurasian H5 virus, the United States Department of Agriculture coordinated several epidemiologic investigations at poultry farms. As part of those efforts, we sampled synanthropic birds and mammals at five infected and five uninfected poultry farms in northwest Iowa for exposure to avian influenza viruses. Across all farms, we collected 2,627 samples from 648 individual birds and mammals. House mice were the most common mammal species captured while house sparrows, European starlings, rock pigeons, swallows, and American robins were the most commonly captured birds. A single European starling was positive for Eurasian H5 viral RNA and seropositive for antibodies reactive to the Eurasian H5 virus. Two American robins were also seropositive. No mammal species showed evidence of infection. These results indicate synanthropic species merit further scrutiny to better understand potential biosecurity risks. We propose a set of management practices aimed at reducing wildlife incursions.
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Susan A
SA
Shriner
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
J Jeffrey
JJ
Root
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Mark W
MW
Lutman
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Manhattan, KS USA.
Jason M
JM
Kloft
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Kaci K
KK
VanDalen
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Heather J
HJ
Sullivan
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Springfield, IL USA.
Timothy S
TS
White
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Gainesville, FL USA.
Michael P
MP
Milleson
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Raleigh, NC USA.
Jerry L
JL
Hairston
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Sacramento, CA USA.
Shannon C
SC
Chandler
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Minneapolis, MN USA.
Paul C
PC
Wolf
Wildlife Services, USDA-APHIS, Sherwood, AR USA.
Clinton T
CT
Turnage
Science, Technology and Analysis Services, Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Brian J
BJ
McCluskey
Virus and Prion Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS, Ames, Iowa, USA.
Amy L
AL
Vincent
National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Science, Technology and Analysis Services, Veterinary Services, USDA-APHIS, Ames, IA, USA.
Mia K
MK
Torchetti
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Thomas
T
Gidlewski
National Wildlife Research Center, USDA-APHIS, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Thomas J
TJ
DeLiberto
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D053125:Influenza A Virus, H5N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000071225:Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral