Global Avian Influenza Surveillance in Wild Birds: A Strategy to Capture Viral Diversity

Abstract

Wild birds play a major role in the evolution, maintenance, and spread of avian influenza viruses. However, surveillance for these viruses in wild birds is sporadic, geographically biased, and often limited to the last outbreak virus. To identify opportunities to optimize wild bird surveillance for understanding viral diversity, we reviewed responses to a World Organisation for Animal Health–administered survey, government reports to this organization, articles on Web of Knowledge, and the Influenza Research Database. At least 119 countries conducted avian influenza virus surveillance in wild birds during 2008–2013, but coordination and standardization was lacking among surveillance efforts, and most focused on limited subsets of influenza viruses. Given high financial and public health burdens of recent avian influenza outbreaks, we call for sustained, cost-effective investments in locations with high avian influenza diversity in wild birds and efforts to promote standardized sampling, testing, and reporting methods, including full-genome sequencing and sharing of isolates with the scientific community.

Rapidly Expanding Range of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses

“…As other researchers have recently pointed out, robust, targeted surveillance programs among wild birds ( 11 ) and poultry, modeling of the movements of HPAIV-infected wild birds, and experimental research studies will provide the knowledge required for intelligent policy and management decisions regarding agriculture, wildlife, and public health.…”

Intercontinental Spread of Asian-Origin H5N8 to North America through Beringia by Migratory Birds

“…ince 1996, the Asian-origin H5N1 A/goose/Guangdong/1/ 1996 (Gs/GD) lineage of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) has caused outbreaks in poultry, infections in wild birds, and clinical, often fatal, cases in humans in Eurasia and North Africa (1). Historically, geographic barriers appeared to limit the spread of low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIV) through migratory aquatic birds between the Old and New Worlds, allowing distinct lineages of Eurasian and North American viruses to evolve, but such barriers were not complete, as occasional spillovers of gene segments occurred (2).…”

Rôle des oiseaux sauvages dans la transmission et la dispersion des virus de l’influenza aviaire : apport de l’éco-épidémiologie dans les écosystèmes afro-tropicaux

“…Le fait que de nouveaux VIA zoonotiques ne cessent d'émerger à partir d'un pool génétique de virus circulant, entre autres, chez les oiseaux sauvages, puis qu'ils soient dispersés et deviennent endémiques dans certaines régions du monde, souligne la nécessité de maintenir un effort de surveillance ciblé et coordonné au niveau mondial des VIA circulant dans l'avifaune (Machalaba et al, 2015). De plus, le rôle des interactions entre oiseaux sauvages et domestiques dans l'émergence de nouvelles souches VIA HP souligne l'importance d'améliorer notre compréhension des processus de transmission et d'évolution des VIA à l'interface entre oiseaux sauvages et volaille.…”