Highly Pathogenic and Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Subtype Viruses in Wild Birds in Ukraine.

There have been three waves of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in commercial, backyard poultry, and wild birds in Ukraine. The first (2005-2006) and second (2008) waves were caused by H5N1 HPAI virus, with 45 outbreaks among commercial poultry (chickens) and backyard fowl (chickens, ducks, and geese) in four regions of Ukraine (AR Crimea, Kherson, Odesa, and Sumy Oblast). H5N1 HPAI viruses were isolated from dead wild birds: cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus) in 2006 and 2008. The third HPAI wave consisted of nine outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI in wild and domestic birds, beginning in November 2016 in the central and south regions (Kherson, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, and Mykolaiv Oblast). H5N8 HPAI virus was detected in dead mute swans (Cygnus olor), peacocks (Pavo cristatus) (in zoo), ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and from environmental samples in 2016 and 2017. Wide wild bird surveillance for avian influenza (AI) virus was conducted from 2006 to 2016 in Ukraine regions suspected of being intercontinental (north-south and east-west) flyways. A total of 21 511 samples were collected from 105 species of wild birds representing 27 families and 11 orders. Ninety-five avian influenza (AI) viruses were isolated (including one H5N2 LPAI virus in 2010) from wild birds with a total of 26 antigenic hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) combinations. Fifteen of 16 known avian HA subtypes were isolated. Two H5N8 HPAI viruses (2016-2017) and two H5N2 LPAI viruses (2016) were isolated from wild birds and environmental samples (fresh bird feces) during surveillance before the outbreak in poultry in 2016-2017. The Ukrainian H5N1, H5N8 HPAI, and H5N2 LPAI viruses belong to different H5 phylogenetic groups. Our results demonstrate the great diversity of AI viruses in wild birds in Ukraine, as well as the importance of this region for studying the ecology of avian influenza.

Virus de influenza aviar del subtipo H5 altamente patógenos y de baja patogenicidad en aves silvestres en Ucrania. Ha habido tres oleadas de brotes de influenza aviar altamente patógena en aves comerciales, de traspatio y en aves silvestres en Ucrania. La primera (2005-2006) y la segunda (2008) fueron causadas por el virus de influenza aviar de alta patogenicidad H5N1, con 45 brotes en aves comerciales (pollos) y aves de traspatio (pollos, patos y gansos) en cuatro regiones de Ucrania (AR Crimea, Kherson, Odesa y Sumy Oblast). Los virus de alta patogenicidad H5N1se aislaron de aves silvestres muertas: cormoranes (Phalacrocorax carbo) y de somormujos lavanco (Podiceps cristatus) en 2006 y 2008. La tercera ola del virus de influenza aviar de alta patogenicidad consistió en nueve brotes del virus de alta patogenicidad subtipo H5N8 en aves silvestres y domésticas, a partir de noviembre de 2016 en las regiones central y sur (Kherson, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Ternopil y Mykolaiv Oblast). Se detectó el virus al patogenicidad H5N8 en cisnes blancos muertos (Cygnus olor), pavos reales (Pavo cristatus) (en zoológicos), tarros canelos (Tadorna ferruginea), gansos caretos (Anser albifrons) y en muestras ambientales en 2016 y 2017. Una vigilancia más amplia de aves silvestres para detectar el virus de la influenza aviar se realizó entre 2006 y 2016 en las regiones de Ucrania sospechosas de ser rutas migratorias intercontinentales (norte-sur y este-oeste). Se recolectaron un total de 21,511 muestras de 105 especies de aves silvestres que representan a 27 familias y 11 órdenes. Se aislaron ochenta y dos virus de influenza aviar de baja patogenicidad (incluido un virus H5N2 de baja patogenicidad del 2010) de aves silvestres con un total de 23 combinaciones antigénicas de hemaglutininas (HA) y neuraminidasas (NA). Se aislaron quince de los 16 subtipos de HA aviar conocidos. Dos virus de alta patogenicidad H5N8 y dos virus H5N2 de baja patogenicidad se aislaron de aves silvestres vivas y de muestras ambientales (heces de aves frescas) durante la vigilancia antes del brote en avicultura. Los virus ucranianos de alta patogenicidad H5N1, H5N8 y de baja patogenicidad H5N2 pertenecen a diferentes grupos filogenéticos de H5. Estos resultados demuestran la gran diversidad de virus de la influenza aviar en aves silvestres en Ucrania, así como la importancia de esta región para estudiar la ecología de la influenza aviar.

Highly Pathogenic and Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Subtype Viruses in Wild Birds in Ukraine.

There have been three waves of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in commercial, backyard poultry, and wild birds in Ukraine. The first (2005-2006) and second (2008) waves were caused by H5N1 HPAI virus, with 45 outbreaks among commercial poultry (chickens) and backyard fowl (chickens, ducks, and geese) in four regions of Ukraine (AR Crimea, Kherson, Odesa, and Sumy Oblast). H5N1 HPAI viruses were isolated from dead wild birds: cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) and great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus) in 2006 and 2008. The third HPAI wave consisted of nine outbreaks of H5N8 HPAI in wild and domestic birds, beginning in November 2016 in the central and south regions (Kherson, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, and Mykolaiv Oblast). H5N8 HPAI virus was detected in dead mute swans (Cygnus olor), peacocks (Pavo cristatus) (in zoo), ruddy shelducks (Tadorna ferruginea), white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons), and from environmental samples in 2016 and 2017. Wide wild bird surveillance for avian influenza (AI) virus was conducted from 2006 to 2016 in Ukraine regions suspected of being intercontinental (north-south and east-west) flyways. A total of 21 511 samples were collected from 105 species of wild birds representing 27 families and 11 orders. Ninety-five avian influenza (AI) viruses were isolated (including one H5N2 LPAI virus in 2010) from wild birds with a total of 26 antigenic hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) combinations. Fifteen of 16 known avian HA subtypes were isolated. Two H5N8 HPAI viruses (2016-2017) and two H5N2 LPAI viruses (2016) were isolated from wild birds and environmental samples (fresh bird feces) during surveillance before the outbreak in poultry in 2016-2017. The Ukrainian H5N1, H5N8 HPAI, and H5N2 LPAI viruses belong to different H5 phylogenetic groups. Our results demonstrate the great diversity of AI viruses in wild birds in Ukraine, as well as the importance of this region for studying the ecology of avian influenza.

Virus de influenza aviar del subtipo H5 altamente patógenos y de baja patogenicidad en aves silvestres en Ucrania. Ha habido tres oleadas de brotes de influenza aviar altamente patógena en aves comerciales, de traspatio y en aves silvestres en Ucrania. La primera (2005-2006) y la segunda (2008) fueron causadas por el virus de influenza aviar de alta patogenicidad H5N1, con 45 brotes en aves comerciales (pollos) y aves de traspatio (pollos, patos y gansos) en cuatro regiones de Ucrania (AR Crimea, Kherson, Odesa y Sumy Oblast). Los virus de alta patogenicidad H5N1se aislaron de aves silvestres muertas: cormoranes (Phalacrocorax carbo) y de somormujos lavanco (Podiceps cristatus) en 2006 y 2008. La tercera ola del virus de influenza aviar de alta patogenicidad consistió en nueve brotes del virus de alta patogenicidad subtipo H5N8 en aves silvestres y domésticas, a partir de noviembre de 2016 en las regiones central y sur (Kherson, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Ternopil y Mykolaiv Oblast). Se detectó el virus al patogenicidad H5N8 en cisnes blancos muertos (Cygnus olor), pavos reales (Pavo cristatus) (en zoológicos), tarros canelos (Tadorna ferruginea), gansos caretos (Anser albifrons) y en muestras ambientales en 2016 y 2017. Una vigilancia más amplia de aves silvestres para detectar el virus de la influenza aviar se realizó entre 2006 y 2016 en las regiones de Ucrania sospechosas de ser rutas migratorias intercontinentales (norte-sur y este-oeste). Se recolectaron un total de 21,511 muestras de 105 especies de aves silvestres que representan a 27 familias y 11 órdenes. Se aislaron ochenta y dos virus de influenza aviar de baja patogenicidad (incluido un virus H5N2 de baja patogenicidad del 2010) de aves silvestres con un total de 23 combinaciones antigénicas de hemaglutininas (HA) y neuraminidasas (NA). Se aislaron quince de los 16 subtipos de HA aviar conocidos. Dos virus de alta patogenicidad H5N8 y dos virus H5N2 de baja patogenicidad se aislaron de aves silvestres vivas y de muestras ambientales (heces de aves frescas) durante la vigilancia antes del brote en avicultura. Los virus ucranianos de alta patogenicidad H5N1, H5N8 y de baja patogenicidad H5N2 pertenecen a diferentes grupos filogenéticos de H5. Estos resultados demuestran la gran diversidad de virus de la influenza aviar en aves silvestres en Ucrania, así como la importancia de esta región para estudiar la ecología de la influenza aviar.

Wild bird surveillance for avian paramyxoviruses in the Azov-black sea region of Ukraine (2006 to 2011) reveals epidemiological connections with Europe and Africa.

Despite the existence of 10 avian paramyxovirus (APMV) serotypes, very little is known about the distribution, host species, and ecological factors affecting virus transmission. To better understand the relationship among these factors, we conducted APMV wild bird surveillance in regions of Ukraine suspected of being intercontinental (north to south and east to west) flyways. Surveillance for APMV was conducted in 6,735 wild birds representing 86 species and 8 different orders during 2006 to 2011 through different seasons. Twenty viruses were isolated and subsequently identified as APMV-1 (n = 9), APMV-4 (n = 4), APMV-6 (n = 3), and APMV-7 (n = 4). The highest isolation rate occurred during the autumn migration (0.61%), with viruses isolated from mallards, teals, dunlins, and a wigeon. The rate of isolation was lower during winter (December to March) (0.32%), with viruses isolated from ruddy shelducks, mallards, white-fronted geese, and a starling. During spring migration, nesting, and postnesting (April to August) no APMV strains were isolated out of 1,984 samples tested. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of four APMV-1 and two APMV-4 viruses showed that one APMV-1 virus belonging to class 1 was epidemiologically linked to viruses from China, three class II APMV-1 viruses were epidemiologically connected with viruses from Nigeria and Luxembourg, and one APMV-4 virus was related to goose viruses from Egypt. In summary, we have identified the wild bird species most likely to be infected with APMV, and our data support possible intercontinental transmission of APMVs by wild birds.