First report of serological and molecular detection of influenza A (H1N1) in European bison (Bison bonasus).
Anna Didkowska1
Víctor Martín-Santander2,3
Anna Golke4
Marlena Wojciechowska5
Wanda Olech5
Olga Szaluś-Jordanow6
Tomasz Dzieciątkowski7
Álex Gómez2,3
Sergio Villanueva-Saz8,9,10
Ewelina Kwiecień4
Pablo Quilez2,3
Krzysztof Anusz11
Diana Marteles-Aragüés2,3
Affiliations11 institutions
Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, Warsaw, 02-787, Poland. [email protected].
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet Street, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.
Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain.
Department of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, Warsaw, 02-786, Poland.
Department of Animal Genetic and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, Poland.
Department of Small Animal Diseases with Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska Str. 159c, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland.
Chair and Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Chałubińskiego 5, Warsaw, 02-004, Poland.
Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 177 Miguel Servet Street, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain. [email protected].
Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain. [email protected].
Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, 50013, Spain. [email protected].
Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, Warsaw, 02-787, Poland.
Influenza A virus is a zoonotic pathogen capable of infecting a wide range of hosts, yet data on infections in wild ruminants are limited. The European bison (<i>Bison bonasus</i>), Europe’s largest terrestrial mammal, had not previously been identified as a host for Influenza A virus. This study aimed to provide the first molecular and serological evidence of H1N1 pandemic influenza A virus (A/H1N1pdm) infection in European bison, contributing to the understanding of Influenza A virus ecology at the wildlife–livestock interface. We retrospectively analysed 335 serum samples collected from European bison between 2017 and 2023 using a commercial ELISA detecting antibodies against all Influenza A virus subtypes. Tissue samples (heart and liver) from ELISA-positive animal were further tested by RT-qPCR targeting hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of A/H1N1pdm, A/H3N2, and A/H5N1. PCR-positive products were sequenced for confirmation. Seroprevalence of Influenza A virus was 0.3% (1/335; 95% CI: 0.02–1.71). Influenza A virus RNA (A/H1N1pdm) was detected in the heart and liver tissue of a 4-year-old captive male from Borecka Forest, culled in 2018. The animal exhibited pulmonary congestion, emphysema, and posthitis at necropsy. This study provides the first molecular and serological confirmation of H1N1pdm infection in European bison. The findings highlight the potential susceptibility of this species to Influenza A virus and raise questions about possible transmission routes, including spillover from domestic animals or humans.
ELISA testing of serum from European bison detected antibodies to Influenza A virus with a seroprevalence of 0.3%, indicating prior exposure to H1N1pdm.
We retrospectively analysed 335 serum samples collected from European bison between 2017 and 2023 using a commercial ELISA detecting antibodies against all Influenza A virus subtypes. Seroprevalence of Influenza A virus was 0.3% (1/335; 95% CI: 0.02–1.71).
Method
ELISA
Sample type
serum
Spillover Event1 records
Spillover EventExtraction confidence 0.90
Key finding
Pandemic influenza A/H1N1pdm virus was detected in a European bison, suggesting possible spillover from humans.
Influenza A virus RNA (A/H1N1pdm) was detected in the heart and liver tissue of a 4-year-old captive male from Borecka Forest, culled in 2018. ... The findings highlight the potential susceptibility of this species to Influenza A virus and raise questions about possible transmission routes, including spillover from domestic animals or humans.
Method
ELISA; RT-qPCR; sequencing
Study design
field surveillance
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Borecka Forest
Country inferred
Poland
Zoonotic Surveillance1 records
Zoonotic SurveillanceExtraction confidence 0.95
Key finding
Influenza A (H1N1pdm) RNA and antibodies were detected through serological and molecular monitoring of European bison, demonstrating the species’ potential susceptibility.
We retrospectively analysed 335 serum samples collected from European bison between 2017 and 2023 using a commercial ELISA detecting antibodies against all Influenza A virus subtypes. Tissue samples (heart and liver) from ELISA-positive animal were further tested by RT-qPCR targeting hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of A/H1N1pdm, A/H3N2, and A/H5N1.
Method
ELISA; RT-qPCR; sequencing
Sample type
serum; heart tissue; liver tissue
Geographic raw
Borecka Forest
Country inferred
Poland
Citation context
References
20 references
Reference network
Force-directed citation graph. OmniVira-indexed references are prioritized and recursively expanded up to three steps.
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