Abstract

The highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented deaths in South American wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals. In September 2023, pinnipeds and seabirds appeared dead on the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. Sixteen influenza virus strains were characterized by real-time reverse transcription PCR and genome sequencing in samples from sea lions (Otaria flavescens), fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), and terns (Sterna hirundinacea). Phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction analysis showed that these strains have pinnipeds most likely as the ancestral host, representing a recent introduction of clade 2.3.4.4b in Uruguay. The Uruguayan and closely related strains from Peru (sea lions) and Chile (sea lions and a human case) carry mammalian adaptative residues 591K and 701N in the viral polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2). Our findings suggest that clade 2.3.4.4b strains in South America may have spread from mammals to mammals and seabirds, revealing a new transmission route.

Details

Title
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in pinnipeds and seabirds in Uruguay: Implications for bird–mammal transmission in South America
Author
Gonzalo Tomás 1 ; Marandino, Ana 1 ; Panzera, Yanina 1 ; Rodríguez, Sirley 2 ; Gabriel Luz Wallau 3 ; Filipe Zimmer Dezordi 3 ; Pérez, Ramiro 2 ; Bassetti, Lucía 2 ; Negro, Raúl 2 ; Williman, Joaquín 1 ; Uriarte, Valeria 4 ; Grazioli, Fabiana 4 ; Leizagoyen, Carmen 4 ; Riverón, Sabrina 5 ; Coronel, Jaime 5 ; Bello, Soledad 5 ; Páez, Enrique 5 ; Lima, Martín 5 ; Méndez, Virginia 5 ; Pérez, Ruben 1 

 Sección Genética Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República , Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay 
 Departamento de Virología, División de Laboratorios Veterinarios ‘Miguel C. Rubino’, Dirección’General de Servicios Ganaderos, Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca , Ruta 8 km 17,000, Montevideo 12100, Uruguay 
 Departamento de Entomología, Núcleo de Bioinformática, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães (IAM)-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) , Av. Moraes Rego, s/n, Campus da UFPE- Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco 50740-465, Brazil 
 Dirección Nacional de Biodiversidad y Servicios Ecosistémicos (DINABISE), Ministerio de Ambiente , Juncal 1385, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay 
 Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos (DINARA), Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca , Constituyente 1497, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay 
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Oxford University Press
e-ISSN
20571577
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3168696509
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press. This work is published under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.