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Title: Major role for migratory wild birds in the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4) viruses in 2014 and 2015

Author
item LYCETT, SAMANTHA - University Of Edinburgh
item BODEWES, ROGIER - University Of Utrecht
item POHLMANN, ANNE - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut
item BANKS, JILL - Animal & Plant Health Agency Apha
item BANYAI, KRISZTIAN - Hungarian Academy Of Sciences
item BONI, MACIEJ - University Of Oxford
item BOUWSTRA, RUTH - Gd Animal Health Service
item BREED, ANDREW - Animal & Plant Health Agency Apha
item LEE, DONG-HUN - Orise Fellow
item Swayne, David
item TORCHETTI, MIA - Diagnostic Virology Laboratory/ National Veterinary Services Laboratories
item KUIKEN, THIJS - Erasmus University

Submitted to: Science Magazine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2016
Publication Date: 10/14/2016
Citation: Lycett, S.J., Bodewes, R., Pohlmann, A., Banks, J., Banyai, K., Boni, M.F., Bouwstra, R., Breed, A.C., Lee, D., Swayne, D.E., Torchetti, M.K., Kuiken, T. 2016. Major role for migratory wild birds in the global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4) viruses in 2014 and 2015. Science Magazine. 354(3609):213-217. doi:10.1126/science.aaf8852.

Interpretive Summary: The deadly H5N8 virus emerged in South Korea during 2014 and was spread by wild birds to Japan, North America and Europe by 2014. The data indicated that the H5N8 virus was spread by long-distance migratory birds. This hemagglutinin gene is highly promiscuous with reasserting with different neuraminidase subtypes to create new hybrid viruses.

Technical Abstract: Avian influenza viruses are of major concern to both poultry production and public health. A subtype H5N8 (clade 2.3.4.4) virus, following an outbreak in poultry in South Korea in 2013/2014, showed unprecedented rapid and global spread to Japan, North America and Europe in 2014/2015. Our interdisciplinary global analysis of H5N8 viral sequences, epidemiological outbreak investigations, wild bird migration, and live poultry trade provides the most compelling evidence to date that long-distance migratory birds can play a major role in the global spread of avian influenza viruses. We also show that the haemagglutinin of clade 2.3.4.4 virus is remarkably promiscuous, freely pairing with multiple neuraminidase subtypes to create new reassortants. Enhancing surveillance for avian influenza viruses worldwide is an animal and public health priority.