Location: Animal Production and Protection
Project Number: 0208-32000-001-094-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Aug 26, 2024
End Date: Aug 25, 2029
Objective:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was first detected in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana in 2022. Since then, USDA has confirmed the presence of the virus in more than 1,120 commercial and backyard poultry flocks in 48 States, making it the largest animal health outbreak in United States history. The Agency continues to detect H5N1 in wild migratory bird species through surveillance and mortality investigations, and has confirmed more than 9,000 detections in at least 163 different wild bird species across 49 States and Washington D.C.
APHIS confirmed the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Texas dairy cattle herd on March 25, 2024. As of mid-July 2024, APHIS has confirmed HPAI in a total of 161 dairy premises in 13 States. Research has shown that the initial introduction occurred from a single spillover event by wild birds into dairy cattle. The disease then spread via movement of infected cattle though the mechanism of lateral transfer between cattle remains to be elucidated. Since the beginning of the outbreak wild mammals have also been infected with HPAI, however thus far goats and alpacas are the only other mammalian livestock species with reported infections. This research project will enhance ongoing studies in the genomic epidemiology of HPAI H5Nx viruses, further examine pathogenesis of HPAI infections in swine and the development of improved surveillance and control strategies for swine.
This project will conduct research to develop animal models of disease in relevant livestock species in order to understand mechanisms of infection, disease pathogenesis and development of improved diagnostics and compatible vaccines. This research will inform response policy and provide fit-for-purpose tools in the event that the U.S. decides to vaccinate susceptible species.
This project will also conduct priority food safety research, product testing and development of predictive analytics and development of intervention and control strategies.
Approach:
This project will operate as a collaboration between the Office of National Programs (ONP) and USDA ARS’s high-containment laboratories with expertise in HPAI, US National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) in Athens, GA and the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA. Additional food safety research will occur at the Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC) and other laboratories as deemed necessary.
A. The ONP will coordinate communication with APHIS on all aspects of the collaborative research project to include quarterly research updates between relevant researchers and APHIS. ONP will also coordinate outreach to commercial vaccine companies.
B. The USNPRC will lead research in the improvement of vaccination strategies for turkeys and development of a small ruminant host model. The USNPRC will also lead research on improved diagnostics and development of vaccine methodologies.
C. The NADC will lead research on genomic epidemiology as well as the development of infection models, disease characterization and improved vaccines and diagnostics for cattle and swine. Improved infection and disease characterization of HPAI in mammalian hosts (swine, cattle, small ruminant).
