Asymptomatic infection and antibody prevalence to co-occurring avian influenza viruses vary substantially between sympatric seabird species following H5N1 outbreaks

Greco, Fiona; Ravenswater, Hannah M.; Ruiz-Raya, Francisco; D’Avino, Chiara; Newell, Mark A.; Hewitt, Josie; Taylor, Erin; Benninghaus, Ella; Daunt, Francis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4638-3388; Goodman, Gidona; Steel, David; Park, Jenny; Philip, Emma; Thomas, Saumya S.; Slomka, Marek J.; Falchieri, Marco; Reid, Scott M.; James, Joe; Banyard, Ashley C.; Burthe, Sarah J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8871-3432; Cunningham, Emma J.A.. 2025 Asymptomatic infection and antibody prevalence to co-occurring avian influenza viruses vary substantially between sympatric seabird species following H5N1 outbreaks. Scientific Reports, 15, 1435. 11, pp. 10.1038/s41598-025-85152-6

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85152-6

Abstract/Summary

Emerging infectious diseases are of major concern to animal and human health. Recent emergence of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) (H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) led to substantial global mortality across a range of host species. Co-occurring species showed marked differences in mortality, generating an urgent need for better epidemiological understanding within affected populations. We therefore tested for antibodies, indicative of previous exposure and recovery, and for active viral infection in apparently healthy individuals (n = 350) across five co-occurring seabird species on the Isle of May, Scotland, during 2023, following H5N1 HPAIV associated mortality in the preceding summer. Antibody prevalence to AIV subtypes varied substantially between species, ranging from 1.1% in European shags (Gulosus aristotelis) (to H5) to 78.7% in black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) (to H16 or both H13 and H16), and between 31 and 41% for three auk species (H5, H16 or both). At least 20.4% of auks had antibodies to an as yet unidentified subtype, suggesting further subtypes circulating in the population. We found low levels of active, but asymptomatic, AIV infection in individuals (1.6–4.5%), but excluded this as H5N1. Our results emphasise the importance of testing healthy individuals to understand the prevalence of co-circulating AIV subtypes in wild populations, and the potential for future reassortment events which could alter virus behaviour and impact.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41598-025-85152-6
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)
ISSN:	2045-2322
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	antibodies, emerging infectious disease, epidemiology, immunity, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, seabirds
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Health Zoology
Date made live:	09 Jan 2025 16:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538678

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41598-025-85152-6

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity and Land Use (2025-)

ISSN:

2045-2322

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

antibodies, emerging infectious disease, epidemiology, immunity, H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, seabirds