Emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) virus in migratory birds in Central China, 2020

Jiasong Xiong; Hao Zhou; Lifang Fan; Gongliang Zhu; Yong Li; Guang Chen; Jun Zhang; Jundong Li; Hesong Zheng; Wei Feng; Jing Chen; Guoxiang Yang; Quanjiao Chen

doi:10.1080/22221751.2021.1956372

Emerging highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) virus in migratory birds in Central China, 2020

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2021 Dec;10(1):1503-1506. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1956372.

Authors

Jiasong Xiong^{1

2}, Hao Zhou^{1

2}, Lifang Fan³, Gongliang Zhu⁴, Yong Li⁴, Guang Chen⁴, Jun Zhang⁴, Jundong Li⁵, Hesong Zheng⁶, Wei Feng⁴, Jing Chen⁴, Guoxiang Yang⁴, Quanjiao Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early Warning, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of pathology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
⁴ The Monitoring Center of Wildlife Diseases and Resource of Hubei Province, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Longgan Lake National Nature Reserve Administration, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
⁶ Wang Lake Wetland Nature Reserve Administration of Huangshi City, Huangshi, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Eleven highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 viruses (clade 2.3.4.4b) were detected in migratory birds in Central China between November and December 2020, which were highly homologous to strains isolated in Europe from October to December 2020. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strains in the study possibly spread from Siberia by migratory birds. In this study, we found H5N8 virus infection in migratory birds could cause severe pathological damage and high viral load in multiple organs.

Keywords: HPAIV H5N8; flyway; histopathology; migratory birds; phylogenetic analysis.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Animal Migration
Animals
Animals, Wild / classification
Animals, Wild / physiology
Animals, Wild / virology
Birds / classification
Birds / physiology
Birds / virology
China
Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / classification
Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / genetics
Influenza A Virus, H5N8 Subtype / isolation & purification*
Influenza in Birds / physiopathology
Influenza in Birds / virology*
Phylogeny

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National Science and Technology Major Project [Grant Numbers 2018ZX10101004, 2020ZX10001016] and National Forestry and Grassland Administration Project: Monitoring, Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and Other Key Wild Animal Diseases [Grant Number 2020076041].