Thank you for visiting nature. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer. In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. The global outbreak of clade 2.
Antibodies to IAV were detected in 86 out of individuals representing 7 species. Antibodies to H5 and N1 were detected in 60 individuals representing 6 species. Prevalence of antibodies to IAV observed in this study was higher than reported from raptors sampled in this same region in The high prevalence of antibodies to H5 and N1 indicates a higher survival rate post-HP H5N1 infection in raptors than previously believed. Influenza A viruses IAV represent a threat to wildlife, agriculture, and humans across the globe 1 , 2.
The current global outbreak of clade 2. In North America, clade 2. It was first documented in Minnesota and the upper Midwest in late March 5 , 9. In North American wild birds, there have been large scale mortality events with more than 9, reported infections in over species and sustained transmission continuing over multiple waterfowl migration seasons 5 , Reported wild bird detections are likely a significant underestimate of the impact on wild bird populations, as not every individual in a mass die off is tested and reported, and not all wild birds that succumb to this virus are found or tested Raptors are highly susceptible to infection with HP H5N1 and often develop severe clinical disease 12 , 13 , 14 , Previous serosurveys focused on wild and captive raptor populations have found low antibody detection rates to IAVs 16 , 17 , A study in Norway did not detect antibodies to IAV in nestling white-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla or northern goshawks Accipiter gentilis A study conducted in the United Arab Emirates between to screened for H5, H7 and H9 antibodies in captive falcons used for falconry; one falcon had antibodies to H5 0.
A serosurvey conducted at The Raptor Center TRC at the University of Minnesota tested several wild raptor species that were admitted for rehabilitation This study reported that 5. Limitations of these previous studies include low sample numbers, limited species and spatial representation, and inclusion of captive animals. HP H5N1 also was not present in these sampled populations in North America when this research was conducted.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers are well positioned to conduct surveillance of wildlife pathogens such as HP H5N1, as they receive a large number of animals from a wide geographic area and are located at the human-wildlife interface 19 , Bird banding stations provide another opportunity to collect disease surveillance samples from apparently healthy wild birds and have been routinely used to monitor the health of wild bird populations.
