TY - GEN

T1 - First characterization of avian influenza viruses from Greenland 2014

AU - Hartby, Christina Marie

AU - Krog, Jesper Schak

AU - Merkel, Flemming

AU - Holm, Elisabeth

AU - Larsen, Lars Erik

AU - Hjulsager, Charlotte Kristiane

PY - 2016/5/1

Y1 - 2016/5/1

N2 - In late February 2014, unusually high numbers of wild thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) were found dead on the coast of South Greenland. To investigate the cause of death, 45 birds were submitted for laboratory examination in Denmark. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) with subtypes H11N2 and low pathogenic H5N1 were detected in some of the birds. Characterization of the viruses by full genome sequencing revealed that all the gene segments belonged to the North American lineage of AIVs. The seemingly sparse and mixed subtype occurrence of low pathogenic AIVs in these birds, in addition to the emaciated appearance of the birds, suggests that the murre die-off was due to malnutrition as a result of sparse food availability or inclement weather. Here we present the first characterization of AIVs isolated in Greenland, and our results support the idea that wild birds in Greenland may be involved in the movement of AIV between North America and Europe.

AB - In late February 2014, unusually high numbers of wild thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) were found dead on the coast of South Greenland. To investigate the cause of death, 45 birds were submitted for laboratory examination in Denmark. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) with subtypes H11N2 and low pathogenic H5N1 were detected in some of the birds. Characterization of the viruses by full genome sequencing revealed that all the gene segments belonged to the North American lineage of AIVs. The seemingly sparse and mixed subtype occurrence of low pathogenic AIVs in these birds, in addition to the emaciated appearance of the birds, suggests that the murre die-off was due to malnutrition as a result of sparse food availability or inclement weather. Here we present the first characterization of AIVs isolated in Greenland, and our results support the idea that wild birds in Greenland may be involved in the movement of AIV between North America and Europe.

KW - Brünnich's guillemot

KW - Greenland

KW - H11N2

KW - H5N1

KW - Intercontinental exchange of influenza virus

KW - Low pathogenic avian influenza virus

KW - Thick-billed murre

KW - Uria lomvia

U2 - 10.1637/11119-050515-RegR

DO - 10.1637/11119-050515-RegR

M3 - Conference article

C2 - 27309071

AN - SCOPUS:84987748125

VL - 60

SP - 302

EP - 310

JO - Avian Diseases

JF - Avian Diseases

SN - 0005-2086

IS - 1

T2 - 9th International Symposium on Avian Influenza, ISAI 2015

Y2 - 12 April 2015 through 15 April 2016

ER -