OmniVira

Epidemiological data of an influenza A/H5N1 outbreak in elephant seals in Argentina indicates mammal-to-mammal transmission.

Marcela M Uhart1,2 Ralph E T Vanstreels3 Martha I Nelson4 Valeria Olivera5 Julieta Campagna6 Victoria Zavattieri6 Philippe Lemey7 Claudio Campagna6 Valeria Falabella6 Agustina Rimondi8,9
Affiliations 9 institutions
  1. Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA. [email protected].
  2. Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program, Puerto Madryn, Argentina. [email protected].
  3. Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
  5. Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas, INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  6. Wildlife Conservation Society, Argentina Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  7. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
  8. Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas, INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina. [email protected].
  9. Robert Koch Institute-Alexander von Humboldt fellowship, Berlin, Germany. [email protected].
PMID39528494 DOI10.1038/s41467-024-53766-5 Year2024 Journal Nature communications Nat Commun Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus has killed thousands of marine mammals in South America since 2022. Here we report epidemiological data and full genome characterization of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAI viruses associated with a massive outbreak in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Península Valdés, Argentina, in October 2023. We also report on H5N1 viruses in concurrently dead terns. Our genomic analysis shows that viruses from pinnipeds and terns in Argentina form a distinct clade with marine mammal viruses from Peru, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. Additionally, these marine mammal clade viruses share an identical set of mammalian adaptation mutations which were also present in tern viruses. Our combined ecological and phylogenetic data support mammal-to-mammal transmission and occasional mammal-to-bird spillover and suggest multinational transmission of H5N1 viruses in mammals. We reflect that H5N1 viruses becoming more evolutionary flexible and adapting to mammals in new ways could have global consequences for wildlife, humans, and/or livestock.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Disease Outbreaks 170 Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype 300 Orthomyxoviridae Infections 228 Phylogeny 805 Seals, Earless 4 Animals 1948 Argentina 5 Genome, Viral 317

Evidence records

3 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
2 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
2 records
OVE8567 Viral Detection
Key finding

Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAI viral genomes were detected in southern elephant seals during an outbreak at Península Valdés, Argentina.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina Natural host
Location
Argentina
Supporting text

Here we report epidemiological data and full genome characterization of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAI viruses associated with a massive outbreak in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Península Valdés, Argentina, in October 2023.

Method
full genome characterization
Sample type
outbreak specimens | genomic samples
Geographic raw
Península Valdés, Argentina
Country inferred
ARG
OVE8568 Viral Detection
Key finding

H5N1 viruses were detected in dead terns concurrent with the elephant seal outbreak in Argentina.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
gulls Laridae Natural host
Location
Argentina
Supporting text

We also report on H5N1 viruses in concurrently dead terns in Argentina.

Method
viral genome detection
Sample type
carcasses
Geographic raw
Argentina
Country inferred
ARG
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
1 records
OVE8571 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Phylogenetic analysis showed that H5N1 HPAI viruses from pinnipeds and terns in Argentina cluster as a distinct clade with marine mammal viruses from Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
pinnipeds Pinnipedia Natural host gulls Laridae Natural host mammals Mammalia Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Our genomic analysis shows that viruses from pinnipeds and terns in Argentina form a distinct clade with marine mammal viruses from Peru, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.

Genes or proteins
genome
Analysis methods
genomic analysis | phylogenetic analysis