Abstract
In 2016, an epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N8 in the Netherlands caused mass deaths among wild birds, and several commercial poultry farms and captive bird holdings were affected. We performed complete genome sequencing to study the relationship between the wild bird and poultry viruses. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the viruses are related to H5 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses detected in Russia in May 2016 but contained novel polymerase basic 2 and nucleoprotein gene segments and 2 different variants of the polymerase acidic segment. Molecular dating suggests that the reassortment events most likely occurred in wild birds in Russia or Mongolia. Furthermore, 2 genetically distinct H5N5 reassortant viruses were detected in wild birds in the Netherlands. Our study provides evidence for fast and continuing reassortment of H5 clade 2.3.4.4 viruses, which might lead to rapid changes in virus characteristics, such as pathogenicity, infectivity, transmission, and zoonotic potential.
Highlights
In 2016, an epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N8 in the Netherlands caused mass deaths among wild birds, and several commercial poultry farms and captive bird holdings were affected
Detection of Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 in Wild Birds and Poultry The 2016 H5N8 epidemic in the Netherlands started with occurrence of hundreds of dead tufted ducks (Aythya fuligula) around a lake near Monnickendam, in the central part of the country
An HPAI virus of subtype H5N5 was detected in 2 birds, a tufted duck found dead near Monnickendam, and a mute swan near Groningen
Summary
In 2016, an epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N8 in the Netherlands caused mass deaths among wild birds, and several commercial poultry farms and captive bird holdings were affected. Pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus subtype H5N8 was detected in wild birds found dead at Uvs-Nuur Lake at the border between Russia and Mongolia in May 2016. This discovery was considered an early warning for the potential spread of the virus by autumn migration of wild birds. In 2014, HPAI H5N8 virus spread from Asia to Europe and North America [6,7], and 5 poultry holdings were infected in the Netherlands [8,9]. The other 5 gene segments (polymerase basic 1 and 2 [PB1 and PB2], polymerase acidic [PA], nucleoprotein [NP], and matrix protein [MP]) were found previously in low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses identified in Mongolia, China, and Vietnam
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