No evidence of avian influenza antibodies in two species of raptor nestlings inhabiting Norway

Megan Marie Lee,Torgeir Nygård,Courtney A Waugh,Mari E Løseth,Jan Ove Bustnes,Nathalie Briels,Veerle L B Jaspers

doi:10.1186/s12917-019-2133-0

Abstract

BackgroundSince 2016, incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented clinical signs and mortality in white-tailed eagles (WTE; Haliaeetus albicilla) across Europe and have been found to be infecting other raptor species, such as the northern goshawk (NG; Accipiter gentilis). Before this study, no screening of Norwegian raptors had been undertaken.ResultsPlasma samples from 43 white-tailed eagle and 29 northern goshawk nestlings, from several locations across Norway were screened for antibodies to avian influenza viruses. No antibodies, and thus, no evidence of AIV exposure, were found in these Norwegian raptors. No clinical signs of AIV were observed in 43 white tailed eagles and 29 northern goshawks.ConclusionsThere are currently no indications that white-tailed eagles and northern goshawks inhabiting Norway are threatened by the recent HPAIV outbreaks in other areas of Europe. Ongoing monitoring should, however, be maintained to detect potential future outbreaks.

Highlights

Since 2016, incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented clinical signs and mortality in white-tailed eagles (WTE; Haliaeetus albicilla) across Europe and have been found to be infecting other raptor species, such as the northern goshawk (NG; Accipiter gentilis)
In the spring of 2018, raptor species constituted 74% of the wild birds infected with Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) that were found dead in Europe [7]
In this study, plasma from 43 Norwegian white-tailed eagles and 29 northern goshawk nestlings was screened for AIV antibodies as an indicator of circulating AIV in these populations

Summary

Introduction

Since 2016, incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented clinical signs and mortality in white-tailed eagles (WTE; Haliaeetus albicilla) across Europe and have been found to be infecting other raptor species, such as the northern goshawk (NG; Accipiter gentilis). In the spring of 2018, raptor species (including white-tailed eagles and northern goshawks amongst others) constituted 74% of the wild birds infected with AIV that were found dead in Europe [7]. The recommendations from these studies [1, 7] were that raptors can act as sentinels for the presence of HPAIV in waterfowl in their range, and

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