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A Lesser Scaup ( Aythya affinis ) Naturally Infected with Eurasian 2.3.4.4 Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus – Movement Ecology and Host Factors
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  • Diann Prosser,
  • Hannah Schley,
  • Nathan Simmons,
  • Josh Homyack,
  • Jeffery D. Sullivan,
  • Matthew Weegman,
  • Glenn Olsen,
  • Alicia M. Berlin,
  • Rebecca Poulson,
  • David Stallknecht,
  • Christopher K. Williams
Diann Prosser
US Geological Survey
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Hannah Schley
University of Delaware
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Nathan Simmons
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
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Josh Homyack
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
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Jeffery D. Sullivan
US Geological Survey

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Matthew Weegman
US Fish and Wildlife Service Arlington
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Glenn Olsen
US Geological Survey
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Alicia M. Berlin
US Geological Survey
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Rebecca Poulson
University of Georgia Department of Population Health
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David Stallknecht
University of Georgia Department of Population Health
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Christopher K. Williams
University of Delaware
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Abstract

Despite the recognized role of wild waterfowl in the potential dispersal and transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, little is known about how infection affects these birds. This lack of information limits our ability to estimate viral spread in the event of an HPAI outbreak, thereby limiting our abilities to estimate and communicate risk. Here we present telemetry data from a wild Lesser Scaup ( Aythya affinis), captured during a separate ecology study in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. This bird tested positive for infection with clade 2.3.4.4 HPAI virus of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD) H5N1 lineage (results received post-release) during the 2021-22 ongoing outbreaks in North America. While the infected bird was somewhat lighter than other adult males surgically implanted with transmitters (790g, mean=868g, n=11), it showed no clinical signs of infection at capture, during surgery, nor upon release. The bird died 3d later, pathology undetermined as the specimen was not able to be recovered. Analysis of movement data within the 3d window showed that the infected individual’s maximum and average hourly movements (3894.3m, 428.8m respectively) were noticeably lower than noninfected conspecifics tagged and released the same day (mean =21594.5m, mean =1097.9m, respectively; n=4). We identified four instances where the infected bird had direct contact (fixes located within 25m and 15 min) with another marked bird during this time. Collectively, these data suggest that the HPAI positive bird observed in this study may have been shedding virus for some period prior to death, with opportunities for direct bird to bird or environmental transmission. Although limited by low sample size and proximity to the time of tagging, we hope that these data will provide useful information as managers continue to respond to this ongoing outbreak event.
06 Apr 2022Submitted to Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
07 Apr 2022Submission Checks Completed
07 Apr 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Apr 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
31 May 20221st Revision Received
31 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
31 May 2022Assigned to Editor
02 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Sep 2022Published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases volume 69 issue 5. 10.1111/tbed.14614