Different Outcomes of Chicken Infection with UK-Origin H5N1-2020 and H5N8-2020 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses (Clade 2.3.4.4b)

Amanda H. Seekings; Caroline J. Warren; Saumya S. Thomas; Fabian Z. X. Lean; David Selden; Benjamin C. Mollett; Pauline M. van Diemen; Ashley C. Banyard; Marek J. Slomka

doi:10.3390/v15091909

Different Outcomes of Chicken Infection with UK-Origin H5N1-2020 and H5N8-2020 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses (Clade 2.3.4.4b)

Amanda H. Seekings
, Caroline J. Warren
, Saumya S. Thomas
, Fabian Z. X. Lean
, David Selden
, Benjamin C. Mollett
, Pauline M. van Diemen
, Ashley C. Banyard
, Marek J. Slomka^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the “goose/Guangdong” lineage have caused a series of European epizootics since 2014. During autumn/winter 2020–2021, several H5Nx subtypes were detected in the UK, with H5N8 being the dominant subtype in wild birds and poultry. Despite the greater subtype diversity (due to viral neuraminidase gene reassortment) reported in wild birds, only H5N8 and H5N1 subtypes caused clade 2.3.4.4 UK HPAIV poultry outbreaks during this period. The direct inoculation of layer chickens showed that H5N8-2020 was more infectious than H5N1-2020, which supported the European H5N8 dominance during that season. However, the mean death time was longer for H5N8-2020 (3.42 days) than for H5N1-2020 (2.17 days). Transmission from directly infected to naive in-contact chickens was inefficient for both subtypes. Histological lesions, the tissue dissemination of viral antigen, and nucleic acid were more extensive and abundant and accumulated more rapidly for H5N1-2020 compared with H5N8-2020. Although inefficient, H5N1-2020 transmission was faster, with its greater virulence indicating that this subtype posed a major concern, as subsequently shown during H5N1 dominance of the clade 2.3.4.4 epizootic since autumn 2021. An evaluation of these in vivo viral characteristics is key to understanding the continuing poultry threats posed by clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx HPAIVs. © 2023 by the authors.

Original language	English
Article number	1909
Number of pages	18
Journal	Viruses
Volume	15
Issue number	9
Online published	12 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/v15091909
Publication status	Published - Sept 2023
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Funding

This research was funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the devolved Scottish and Welsh administrations under grant numbers SE2213 (FLUFUTURES 2), SV3400, and SV3032 (both under Defra Contract C).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

avian influenza
chicken
HPAIV
infection
pathogenesis
transmission

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This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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10.3390/v15091909

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title = "Different Outcomes of Chicken Infection with UK-Origin H5N1-2020 and H5N8-2020 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses (Clade 2.3.4.4b)",

abstract = "Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the “goose/Guangdong” lineage have caused a series of European epizootics since 2014. During autumn/winter 2020–2021, several H5Nx subtypes were detected in the UK, with H5N8 being the dominant subtype in wild birds and poultry. Despite the greater subtype diversity (due to viral neuraminidase gene reassortment) reported in wild birds, only H5N8 and H5N1 subtypes caused clade 2.3.4.4 UK HPAIV poultry outbreaks during this period. The direct inoculation of layer chickens showed that H5N8-2020 was more infectious than H5N1-2020, which supported the European H5N8 dominance during that season. However, the mean death time was longer for H5N8-2020 (3.42 days) than for H5N1-2020 (2.17 days). Transmission from directly infected to naive in-contact chickens was inefficient for both subtypes. Histological lesions, the tissue dissemination of viral antigen, and nucleic acid were more extensive and abundant and accumulated more rapidly for H5N1-2020 compared with H5N8-2020. Although inefficient, H5N1-2020 transmission was faster, with its greater virulence indicating that this subtype posed a major concern, as subsequently shown during H5N1 dominance of the clade 2.3.4.4 epizootic since autumn 2021. An evaluation of these in vivo viral characteristics is key to understanding the continuing poultry threats posed by clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx HPAIVs. {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",

keywords = "avian influenza, chicken, HPAIV, infection, pathogenesis, transmission",

author = "Seekings, \{Amanda H.\} and Warren, \{Caroline J.\} and Thomas, \{Saumya S.\} and Lean, \{Fabian Z. X.\} and David Selden and Mollett, \{Benjamin C.\} and \{van Diemen\}, \{Pauline M.\} and Banyard, \{Ashley C.\} and Slomka, \{Marek J.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 by the authors.",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.3390/v15091909",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

journal = "Viruses",

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T1 - Different Outcomes of Chicken Infection with UK-Origin H5N1-2020 and H5N8-2020 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses (Clade 2.3.4.4b)

AU - Seekings, Amanda H.

AU - Warren, Caroline J.

AU - Thomas, Saumya S.

AU - Lean, Fabian Z. X.

AU - Selden, David

AU - Mollett, Benjamin C.

AU - van Diemen, Pauline M.

AU - Banyard, Ashley C.

AU - Slomka, Marek J.

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the “goose/Guangdong” lineage have caused a series of European epizootics since 2014. During autumn/winter 2020–2021, several H5Nx subtypes were detected in the UK, with H5N8 being the dominant subtype in wild birds and poultry. Despite the greater subtype diversity (due to viral neuraminidase gene reassortment) reported in wild birds, only H5N8 and H5N1 subtypes caused clade 2.3.4.4 UK HPAIV poultry outbreaks during this period. The direct inoculation of layer chickens showed that H5N8-2020 was more infectious than H5N1-2020, which supported the European H5N8 dominance during that season. However, the mean death time was longer for H5N8-2020 (3.42 days) than for H5N1-2020 (2.17 days). Transmission from directly infected to naive in-contact chickens was inefficient for both subtypes. Histological lesions, the tissue dissemination of viral antigen, and nucleic acid were more extensive and abundant and accumulated more rapidly for H5N1-2020 compared with H5N8-2020. Although inefficient, H5N1-2020 transmission was faster, with its greater virulence indicating that this subtype posed a major concern, as subsequently shown during H5N1 dominance of the clade 2.3.4.4 epizootic since autumn 2021. An evaluation of these in vivo viral characteristics is key to understanding the continuing poultry threats posed by clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx HPAIVs. © 2023 by the authors.

AB - Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of the “goose/Guangdong” lineage have caused a series of European epizootics since 2014. During autumn/winter 2020–2021, several H5Nx subtypes were detected in the UK, with H5N8 being the dominant subtype in wild birds and poultry. Despite the greater subtype diversity (due to viral neuraminidase gene reassortment) reported in wild birds, only H5N8 and H5N1 subtypes caused clade 2.3.4.4 UK HPAIV poultry outbreaks during this period. The direct inoculation of layer chickens showed that H5N8-2020 was more infectious than H5N1-2020, which supported the European H5N8 dominance during that season. However, the mean death time was longer for H5N8-2020 (3.42 days) than for H5N1-2020 (2.17 days). Transmission from directly infected to naive in-contact chickens was inefficient for both subtypes. Histological lesions, the tissue dissemination of viral antigen, and nucleic acid were more extensive and abundant and accumulated more rapidly for H5N1-2020 compared with H5N8-2020. Although inefficient, H5N1-2020 transmission was faster, with its greater virulence indicating that this subtype posed a major concern, as subsequently shown during H5N1 dominance of the clade 2.3.4.4 epizootic since autumn 2021. An evaluation of these in vivo viral characteristics is key to understanding the continuing poultry threats posed by clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx HPAIVs. © 2023 by the authors.

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KW - chicken

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KW - infection

KW - pathogenesis

KW - transmission

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U2 - 10.3390/v15091909

DO - 10.3390/v15091909

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 37766317

AN - SCOPUS:85172481837

SN - 1999-4915

VL - 15

JO - Viruses

JF - Viruses

IS - 9

M1 - 1909

ER -

Different Outcomes of Chicken Infection with UK-Origin H5N1-2020 and H5N8-2020 High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses (Clade 2.3.4.4b)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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