Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infections in pinnipeds and seabirds in Uruguay: Implications for bird-mammal transmission in South America.

ABSTRACT: The highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented deaths in South American wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals. In September 2023, pinnipeds and seabirds appeared dead on the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. Sixteen influenza virus strains were characterized by real-time reverse transcription PCR and genome sequencing in samples from sea lions (Otaria flavescens), fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), and terns (Sterna hirundinacea). Phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction analysis showed that these strains have pinnipeds most likely as the ancestral host, representing a recent introduction of clade 2.3.4.4b in Uruguay. The Uruguayan and closely related strains from Peru (sea lions) and Chile (sea lions and a human case) carry mamm

SUBMITTER: Tomas G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11096771 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature