Susceptibilities and Viral Shedding of Peridomestic Wildlife Infected with Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1)

Authors

J. Jeffrey Root, United States Depertment of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, ColoradoFollow
Stephanie M. Porter, United States Depertment of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Julianna B. Lenoch, United States Depertment of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Disease Program, Fort Collins, Colorado
Jeremy W. Ellis, United States Depertment of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, ColoradoFollow
Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2024

Citation

Virology (2024) 600: 110231

doi:

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

We tested the ability of six peridomestic wildlife species to replicate a highly pathogenic (HP) clade 2.3.4.4b AIV (H5N1) isolated in the United States during 2022. All tested species replicated and shed virus, at least to some degree. Of the six species evaluated (house sparrows (Passer domesticus), European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), feral pigeons (Columba livia), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and cottontails (Sylvilagus sp.)), striped skunks and Virginia opossums shed the highest viral titers of 106.3 PFU/mL and 105.0 PFU/mL, respectively. Overall, the results of this study indicate that certain peridomestic species could pose a biosecurity threat to poultry operations in some situations. In addition, this study and field reports indicate that the HP AIVs circulating in the U.S. during 2022–2024 may have an extremely broad range of species that can be impacted by and/or replicate and shed these viruses.