Emergence and interstate spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States.
Thao-Quyen Nguyen1,2
Carl R Hutter1
Alexey Markin1
Megan Thomas1
Kristina Lantz3
Mary Lea Killian3
Garrett M Janzen1
Sriram Vijendran1,2
Sanket Wagle1,2
Blake Inderski1
Drew R Magstadt4,5
Ganwu Li4
Diego G Diel6
Elisha Anna Frye6
Kiril M Dimitrov7
Amy K Swinford7
Alexis C Thompson8
Kevin R Snekvik9,10
David L Suarez11
Steven M Lakin3
Stacey Schwabenlander12
Sara C Ahola13
Kammy R Johnson13
Amy L Baker1
Suelee Robbe-Austerman3
Mia Kim Torchetti3
Tavis K Anderson1
Affiliations13 institutions
Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA.
Department of Computer Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA.
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Canyon, TX, USA.
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA, USA.
Ruminant Health Center, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, USA.
Field Epidemiologic Investigation Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Ft. Collins, CO, USA.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses cross species barriers and have the potential to cause pandemics. In North America, HPAI A(H5N1) viruses related to the goose/Guangdong 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin phylogenetic clade have infected wild birds, poultry, and mammals. Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode. The movement of asymptomatic or presymptomatic cattle has likely played a role in the spread of HPAI within the United States dairy herd. Some molecular markers that may lead to changes in transmission efficiency and phenotype were detected at low frequencies. Continued transmission of H5N1 HPAI within dairy cattle increases the risk for infection and subsequent spread of the virus to human populations.
Cattle DiseasesInfluenza A Virus, H5N1 SubtypeInfluenza in BirdsOrthomyxoviridae InfectionsAnimalsAnimals, WildBirdsCattleDairyingHumansPhylogenyReassortant VirusesUnited States
Structured evidence records
Evidence records
7 total
Genomic Evolution2 records
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.85
Key finding
Genomic data revealed that HPAI A(H5N1) reassorted in wild birds before transmitting once to cattle.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode.
Genes or proteins
hemagglutinin
Analysis methods
genomic analysis; phylogenetic analysis
Genomic EvolutionExtraction confidence 0.85
Key finding
Low-frequency molecular markers potentially affecting transmission phenotype of H5N1 were observed in viral genomes from cattle.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode.
Method
genomic analysis; epidemiological investigation
Study design
genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
United States
Country inferred
United States
Molecular Adaptation1 records
Molecular AdaptationExtraction confidence 0.75
Key finding
H5N1 viruses infecting U.S. dairy cattle contained low-frequency molecular markers possibly altering transmission efficiency and phenotype, following a reassortment event in wild birds.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode. Some molecular markers that may lead to changes in transmission efficiency and phenotype were detected at low frequencies.
Mechanism types
reassortment; transmission_fitness; pathogenicity
Outbreak Investigation1 records
Outbreak InvestigationExtraction confidence 0.80
Key finding
Epidemiological analysis identified a wild bird-to-cattle transmission initiating an H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle, with subsequent spread among cattle herds across the United States.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode. The movement of asymptomatic or presymptomatic cattle has likely played a role in the spread of HPAI within the United States dairy herd.
Method
genomic analysis; epidemiological investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
United States
Country inferred
United States
Outbreak setting
dairy herd
Recombination Or Reassortment1 records
Recombination Or ReassortmentExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
A reassortment event among wild bird influenza A(H5N1) viruses preceded transmission of the reassortant virus to cattle, indicating reassortment contributed to cross-species emergence.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode.
Event type
reassortment
Spillover Event1 records
Spillover EventExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) was transmitted from wild birds to cattle in the United States.
Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode.
