OmniVira

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
Affiliations 13 institutions
  1. Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA.
  2. Department of Computer Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
  3. National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA.
  4. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
  5. Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
  6. Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Animal Health Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
  7. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA.
  8. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Canyon, TX, USA.
  9. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
  10. The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
  11. Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, GA, USA.
  12. Ruminant Health Center, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, USA.
  13. Field Epidemiologic Investigation Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Ft. Collins, CO, USA.
PMID40273240 DOI10.1126/science.adq0900 Year2025 Journal Science (New York, N.Y.) Science Languageeng Statusppublish

Abstract

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.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Cattle Diseases 47 Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype 300 Influenza in Birds 341 Orthomyxoviridae Infections 228 Animals 1948 Animals, Wild 187 Birds 212 Cattle 126 Dairying 5 Humans 1440 Phylogeny 805 Reassortant Viruses 103 United States 46

Evidence records

4 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE9079 Viral Detection
Key finding

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viral material was detected in dairy cattle in the United States.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States.

Method
genomic analysis | epidemiological investigation
Geographic raw
United States
Country inferred
USA
Transmission Evidence
2 records · 2 evidence types
Evidence type Outbreak Investigation
1 records
OVE9082 Outbreak Investigation
Key finding

Movement of asymptomatic or presymptomatic cattle was identified as a factor contributing to interstate spread of HPAI A(H5N1) within U.S. dairy herds.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

The movement of asymptomatic or presymptomatic cattle has likely played a role in the spread of HPAI within the United States dairy herd.

Method
epidemiological investigation
Transmission direction
same-species transmission
Geographic raw
United States
Country inferred
USA
Outbreak setting
dairy herd
Outbreak scale
interstate spread
Evidence type Cross-species Transmission
1 records
OVE9080 Cross-species Transmission
Key finding

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) transmitted from wild birds to cattle in the United States.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
domestic cattle Bos taurus Natural host birds Aves Natural host
Location
United States
Supporting text

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
Study design
genomic and epidemiological investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
United States
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Recombination or Reassortment
1 records
OVE9081 Recombination or Reassortment
Key finding

A reassortment event among wild bird HPAI A(H5N1) viruses occurred in North America prior to the cattle infection episode.

Virus
Influenza A virus H5N1
Host
Not specified
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

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.

Event type
reassortment