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

Author

Listed:
  • Marcela M. Uhart

    (University of California
    Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program)

  • Ralph E. T. Vanstreels

    (University of California)

  • Martha I. Nelson

    (National Institutes of Health)

  • Valeria Olivera

    (INTA-CONICET)

  • Julieta Campagna

    (Argentina Program)

  • Victoria Zavattieri

    (Argentina Program)

  • Philippe Lemey

    (KU Leuven)

  • Claudio Campagna

    (Argentina Program)

  • Valeria Falabella

    (Argentina Program)

  • Agustina Rimondi

    (INTA-CONICET
    Robert Koch Institute-Alexander von Humboldt fellowship)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcela M. Uhart & Ralph E. T. Vanstreels & Martha I. Nelson & Valeria Olivera & Julieta Campagna & Victoria Zavattieri & Philippe Lemey & Claudio Campagna & Valeria Falabella & Agustina Rimondi, 2024. "Epidemiological data of an influenza A/H5N1 outbreak in elephant seals in Argentina indicates mammal-to-mammal transmission," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53766-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53766-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ruopeng Xie & Kimberly M. Edwards & Michelle Wille & Xiaoman Wei & Sook-San Wong & Mark Zanin & Rabeh El-Shesheny & Mariette Ducatez & Leo L. M. Poon & Ghazi Kayali & Richard J. Webby & Vijaykrishna D, 2023. "The episodic resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 virus," Nature, Nature, vol. 622(7984), pages 810-817, October.
    2. Amie J. Eisfeld & Asim Biswas & Lizheng Guan & Chunyang Gu & Tadashi Maemura & Sanja Trifkovic & Tong Wang & Lavanya Babujee & Randall Dahn & Peter J. Halfmann & Tera Barnhardt & Gabriele Neumann & Ya, 2024. "Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus," Nature, Nature, vol. 633(8029), pages 426-432, September.
    3. Michael Worobey & Guan-Zhu Han & Andrew Rambaut, 2014. "A synchronized global sweep of the internal genes of modern avian influenza virus," Nature, Nature, vol. 508(7495), pages 254-257, April.
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