Article
Virology
Lanre Sulaiman, Ismaila Shittu, Alice Fusaro, Bitrus Inuwa, Bianca Zecchin, Dorcas Gado, Alessia Schivo, Alice Bianco, Agnes Laleye, Federica Gobbo, Columba Vakuru, Tony Joannis, Isabella Monne, Clement Meseko
Summary: Research on H9N2 avian influenza viruses in Nigeria has shown zoonotic potential and the presence of different virus clusters in the country, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of live bird markets to prevent economic losses and public health threats.
Article
Virology
Jianpeng Liang, Qian Li, Linlin Cai, Qingli Yuan, Libin Chen, Qiuyan Lin, Chencheng Xiao, Bin Xiang, Tao Ren
Summary: This study investigated the transmission and pathogenicity of two H3N8 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) isolated from wild birds to mammals. Both strains were able to infect chickens, mice, and guinea pigs, and adapted strains showed enhanced pathogenicity in mice. The findings provide important scientific basis for monitoring wild avian influenza viruses and understanding the mechanism of cross-species transmission.
Article
Immunology
Weiyang Sun, Menglin Zhao, Zhijun Yu, Yuanguo Li, Xinghai Zhang, Na Feng, Tiecheng Wang, Hongmei Wang, Hongbin He, Yongkun Zhao, Songtao Yang, Xianzhu Xia, Yuwei Gao
Summary: Wild aquatic birds are the primary hosts of H13 avian influenza viruses, and this study analyzed the genetic characteristics of two strains isolated from wild birds in China. It was found that both strains can efficiently replicate in poultry cells and mammalian cells. In vivo experiments showed that the viruses can infect specific pathogen-free chickens and mice, with one strain demonstrating a higher replication ability in chickens. However, they do not replicate well in turkeys and quails. The study also identified a positive antibody rate against H13 AIVs in farm chickens, indicating a potential risk of transmission from wild aquatic birds to poultry or mammals in the future.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Virology
Muzaffar Ali, Tahir Yaqub, Muhammad Furqan Shahid, Foong Ying Wong, Nadia Mukhtar, Muhammad Naeem, Pauline Lam, Jayanthi Jayakumar, Gavin J. D. Smith, Yvonne C. F. Su
Summary: Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses have undergone reassortment since 2008, leading to the emergence of H5Nx variants; H5N8 viruses detected in Pakistan were closely related to Saudi Arabia viruses, likely introduced through cross-border transmission; Strengthened surveillance in live bird markets is necessary to monitor for potential A(H5Nx) variants from poultry populations.
Article
Microbiology
Rabeh El-Shesheny, Yassmin Moatasim, Sara H. Mahmoud, Yi Song, Ahmed El Taweel, Mokhtar Gomaa, Mina Nabil Kamel, Mohamed El Sayes, Ahmed Kandeil, Tommy T. Y. Lam, Pamela P. McKenzie, Richard J. Webby, Ghazi Kayali, Mohamed Ahmed Ali
Summary: This study reports the first detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses in wild birds and domestic ducks from live bird markets in Egypt. The Egyptian H5N1 virus retained the genomic composition of Eurasian strains and mutations associated with zoonotic potential and pathogenicity were detected. Active surveillance of avian influenza viruses in Egypt is warranted as Egypt is considered a hot spot for the evolution of the influenza virus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liang Ma, Shannon R. Conradie, Christopher L. Crawford, Alexandra S. Gardner, Michael R. Kearney, Ilya M. D. Maclean, Andrew E. McKechnie, Chun-Rong Mi, Rebecca A. Senior, David S. Wilcove
Summary: The physiological impacts of climate change on desert birds globally are predicted by combining climate change projections with biophysical models and species distributions. The results show heterogeneous impacts within and between warm deserts, with spatial patterns of impacts not solely mirroring air temperature changes. Climate change refugia, defined as warm desert areas with high avian diversity and low predicted physiological impacts, are predicted to persist to varying extents in different desert realms. Protecting these refugial areas within the warm deserts is crucial to safeguard species from the effects of climate change.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Annie Kalonda, Ngonda Saasa, Masahiro Kajihara, Naganori Nao, Ladislav Moonga, Joseph Ndebe, Akina Mori-Kajihara, Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa, Mulemba Samutela, Samuel Munjita, Yoshihiro Sakoda, Hirofumi Sawa, Ayato Takada, Edgar Simulundu
Summary: In recent years, southern Africa has experienced multiple incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs), with wild migratory birds being implicated in their spread. A survey of wild waterfowl in Zambia revealed the presence of various subtypes of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (AIVs), including some reported for the first time in avian species in Africa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Zambian AIVs belonged to the Eurasian lineage and clustered with viruses from different countries. The study highlights the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of AIVs in wild waterfowl to understand their eco-epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics in Africa.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Danai Papageorgiou, David Rozen-Rechels, Brendah Nyaguthii, Damien R. Farine
Summary: The study reveals that vulturine guineafowl groups use larger areas, travel longer distances, and move to new places more often during drier seasons, resulting in a three-fold increase in the population level area used during drought conditions. In contrast, groups use smaller areas with more regular movements during wetter seasons.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Francisca C. Velkers, Thijs T. M. Manders, Johannes C. M. Vernooij, Julia Stahl, Roy Slaterus, J. Arjan Stegeman
Summary: This study compared the densities of high-risk wild bird species around HPAIV-infected farms in the Netherlands with non-infected reference farms, showing higher bird densities around H and R-W farms during the winter months. The results provide insights into the environmental and ecological drivers for wild bird presence, facilitating the identification of priority areas for surveillance and biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of HPAIV outbreaks.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
David W. Macdonald
Summary: This article explores the negative impact of human activities on the welfare of wild animals, how to mitigate these impacts, and the need for further research. It also discusses the relationship between animal welfare and biodiversity conservation.
Review
Virology
Josanne H. Verhagen, Ron A. M. Fouchier, Nicola Lewis
Summary: In the past 15 years, Europe has experienced multiple incursions of HPAI H5 viruses leading to mass mortalities among poultry and wild birds. Different subtypes of H5 viruses were responsible for outbreaks in different time periods, with outbreaks often coinciding with waterbird aggregations and migration seasons.
Article
Virology
David H. Chung, Mia. K. Torchetti, Mary L. Killian, David E. Swayne, Dong-Hun Lee
Summary: Live bird market surveillance in the Northeast United States revealed the presence of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry and market environments. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that a wild-bird-origin H2N2 virus was introduced into Pennsylvania's LBMs in 2012 and later spread to LBMs in New York City. LBMs in New York played a crucial role in the maintenance and dissemination of the virus to LBMs in the Northeast US, including reverse spread to Pennsylvania LBMs. Domestic ducks and contaminated LBM environment possibly served as reservoirs for the virus in LBMs.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mohsen Bashashati, David H. Chung, Mohammad Hossein Fallah Mehrabadi, Dong-Hun Lee
Summary: The evolutionary history of H9N2 avian influenza viruses in Iran shows that only the Iran 4 subgroup has survived and currently circulates in the country; the viruses possess molecular markers associated with mammalian adaption; continued surveillance of H9N2 viruses is needed to monitor their evolution and potential threat to public health.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Janneke Schreuder, Henrik J. de Knegt, Francisca C. Velkers, Armin R. W. Elbers, Julia Stahl, Roy Slaterus, J. Arjan Stegeman, Willem F. de Boer
Summary: By conducting a case-control study on HPAI outbreaks on Dutch poultry farms, we were able to successfully predict outbreak risk using machine learning classifiers and identified predictors related to wild bird densities and land cover. This research is important for understanding the role of wild bird species and prioritizing surveillance, biosecurity measures, and the establishment of new poultry farms to reduce HPAI outbreak risks.
Article
Environmental Studies
Roel May, Craig R. Jackson, Heleen Middel, Bard G. Stokke, Francesca Verones
Summary: The study focused on evaluating the impacts of onshore wind energy development on bird species richness in Norway, finding that Norwegian wind-power plants were least efficient in terms of indirect habitat loss and disturbance, with seabirds, raptors, and waterfowl being the most impacted bird groups. This highlights the need for better site selection and assessment to minimize conflicts surrounding environmental concerns of onshore wind energy development in Norway.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
E. C. Y. Lee, J. M. Devlin
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness among the HK public of pet-related zoonotic diseases and their understanding of proper animal husbandry practices. The results showed that the HK public generally lacks familiarity with pet-related zoonotic diseases and proper pet care, which could potentially increase the risk of disease transmission.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
J. A. Quinteros, A. H. Noormohammadi, S. W. Lee, G. F. Browning, A. Diaz-Mendez
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review of general aspects of coronaviruses and specifically focuses on IBV, including protein functions and pathogenesis. The pathogenicity of Australian strains of IBV is discussed, highlighting the variability among different groups of strains.
AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Oluwadamilola S. Omotainse, Nadeeka K. Wawegama, Sathya N. Kulappu Arachchige, Mauricio J. C. Coppo, Paola K. Vaz, Andrew P. Woodward, Somayeh Kordafshari, Mirjana Bogeski, Mark Stevenson, Amir H. Noormohammadi, Andrew W. Stent
Summary: This study investigates the immune response of specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated with the M. synoviae vaccines MS-H and 86079/7NS. The results reveal differences in the immune mechanisms of these two vaccines, and show that MS-H vaccination induces a Tr17 response in the tracheal mucosa, while 7NS vaccination induces a Th1 response.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marzieh Armat, Paola K. Vaz, Glenn F. Browning, Amir H. Noormohammadi, Carol A. Hartley, Joanne M. Devlin
Summary: In this study, the gE and gI coding sequences of infectious laryngotracheitis virus were deleted and replaced with green fluorescent protein (GFP) encoding sequence. The mutant viruses were unable to propagate separately from the wildtype virus, indicating the important role of gE and gI genes in cell-to-cell spread. This study adds ILTV to the growing list of viruses where CRISPR/Cas9-assisted gene deletion has been used to study viral gene function.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Selvi Jegatheeson, Claire Cannon, Caroline Mansfield, Joanne Devlin, Andrew Roberts
Summary: The study shows that malignant T lymphocytes in dogs are sensitive to venetoclax, but B-cell cancers have low sensitivity. Detection of BCL2 protein alone cannot predict the sensitivity to venetoclax.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sara M. Klose, Oluwadamilola S. Omotainse, Sahar Zare, Paola K. Vaz, Parisa Armat, Pollob Shil, Nadeeka Wawegama, Anna Kanci Condello, Denise O'Rourke, Jillian F. Disint, Daniel M. Andrews, Gregory J. Underwood, Chris J. Morrow, Marc S. Marenda, Amir H. Noormohammadi
Summary: Infections caused by Mycoplasma synoviae are a major concern in poultry industries worldwide, leading to reduced production and increased mortality rates. The commonly used live attenuated vaccine strain MS-H has been found to contain mutations in certain genes compared to the wildtype parent strain. Reisolates of the vaccine strain were experimentally inoculated to chickens, and although they colonized the lower respiratory tract, they did not significantly affect the mucosal thickness. However, the mutations in certain proteins were associated with higher air sac lesion scores. These results suggest a significant role of GAPDH and/or cumulative effect of ObgE, OppF and GAPDH on M. synoviae pathogenicity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ethan R. Wyrsch, Rhys N. Bushell, Marc S. Marenda, Glenn F. Browning, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: Lower urinary tract, renal, and bloodstream infections caused by phylogroup B2 extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. ST1193 is a multidrug-resistant sequence type of B2 phylogroup E. coli that is associated with various human infections. This study analyzed the virulence plasmids carried by ST1193 and found that they are similar to pUTI89, a key F virulence plasmid found in dominant extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli lineages. The findings of this study have significant implications for the epidemiological source tracking of ExPEC.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna Sri, Kirsten E. Bailey, James R. Gilkerson, Glenn F. Browning, Laura Y. Hardefeldt
Summary: There is a difference in attitudes towards the use of antimicrobials that have a significant impact on human health in veterinary medicine. A proportion of veterinarians have adopted methods to assess the importance of antimicrobials, and the majority of participants believe that there should be restrictions on the use of high-importance antimicrobials.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Paola K. Vaz, Marzieh Armat, Carol A. Hartley, Joanne M. Devlin
Summary: Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) is a respiratory pathogen of chickens that causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry and poses health and welfare concerns. This study explored two different codon deoptimization techniques to disrupt and downregulate the expression of essential ILTV genes, ICP8 and UL12. Viruses deoptimized through codon pair bias deoptimization (CPBD) showed decreased protein expression, while viruses deoptimized through codon usage deoptimization (CUD) had inconsistent results. This study demonstrates the potential of CPBD as a tool for studying essential genes in ILTV.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Paarthiphan Elankumuran, Glenn F. Browning, Marc S. Marenda, Amanda Kidsley, Marwan Osman, Marisa Haenni, James R. Johnson, Darren J. Trott, Cameron J. Reid, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: ST372 is the major Escherichia coli sequence type in dogs globally and is sporadically responsible for extraintestinal infections in humans. However, it is unclear whether ST372 strains from dogs and humans represent shared or distinct populations. In this study, the authors conducted bioinformatics analyses on 407 ST372 E. coli whole-genome sequences to characterize their epidemiological features, population structure, and associated accessory genomes. The results confirm that dogs are the dominant host of ST372, with distinct clusters within the population structure exhibiting different O:H types. Evidence of transmission between dogs and humans within different clusters was also found.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ri O. Scarborough, Anna E. Sri, Glenn F. Browning, Laura Y. Hardefeldt, Kirsten E. Bailey
Summary: Veterinarians sometimes prescribe antimicrobials even when they know or suspect that they are unnecessary. A study conducted in Australia interviewed 22 veterinarians who treated companion animals to understand the drivers behind this behavior. The use of antimicrobials by veterinarians in the absence of a clear indication is often driven by fears of clinical deterioration and failing to meet client expectations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ratna B. Gurung, Karma P. Zangmo, James R. Gilkerson, Glenn F. Browning, Angeline S. Ferdinand, Mauricio J. C. Coppo
Summary: This study aimed to assess antimicrobial consumption in livestock in Bhutan and identify areas for improvement to reduce the use of antimicrobials. National data on livestock numbers and annual procurement of veterinary antimicrobials were used to calculate rates of antimicrobial consumption and expenditure in Bhutan. The results show that the rate of antimicrobial consumption in Bhutan is lower than in most European countries, comparable to Iceland and Norway, and much lower than in South Asian countries like Nepal and Pakistan.
Article
Microbiology
Piklu Roy Chowdhury, Priyanka Hastak, Matthew Demaere, Ethan Wyrsch, Dmitriy Li, Paarthiphan Elankumaran, Monika Dolejska, Glenn F. Browning, Mark S. Marenda, Thomas Gottlieb, Elaine Cheong, John Merlino, Garry S. A. Myers, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: This study performed a comprehensive analysis of 925 genomes of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST38, revealing two clades and several clusters associated with specific blaCTX-M alleles. The study also identified various virulence genes carried by poorly characterized plasmids. Multiple potential inter-host and host-environment transmission events were also identified.
