Emerging Infectious Diseases (Dec 2023)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Clade 2.3.4.4b Infections in Wild Terrestrial Mammals, United States, 2022

  • Elizabeth J. Elsmo,
  • Arno Wünschmann,
  • Kimberlee B. Beckmen,
  • Liam E. Broughton-Neiswanger,
  • Elizabeth L. Buckles,
  • Jayne Ellis,
  • Scott D. Fitzgerald,
  • Robert Gerlach,
  • Shawna Hawkins,
  • Hon S. Ip,
  • Julia S. Lankton,
  • Erin M. Lemley,
  • Julianna B. Lenoch,
  • Mary L. Killian,
  • Kristina Lantz,
  • Lindsey Long,
  • Roger Maes,
  • Marta Mainenti,
  • Julie Melotti,
  • Megan E. Moriarty,
  • Shotaro Nakagun,
  • Rachel M. Ruden,
  • Valerie Shearn-Bochsler,
  • Danielle Thompson,
  • Mia K. Torchetti,
  • Arnaud J. Van Wettere,
  • Annabel G. Wise,
  • Ailam L. Lim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2912.230464
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 12
pp. 2451 – 2460

Abstract

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We describe the pathology of natural infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus of Eurasian lineage Goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b in 67 wild terrestrial mammals throughout the United States during April 1‒July 21, 2022. Affected mammals include 50 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 6 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), 4 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 2 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 2 Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), 1 coyote (Canis latrans), 1 fisher (Pekania pennanti), and 1 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Infected mammals showed primarily neurologic signs. Necrotizing meningoencephalitis, interstitial pneumonia, and myocardial necrosis were the most common lesions; however, species variations in lesion distribution were observed. Genotype analysis of sequences from 48 animals indicates that these cases represent spillover infections from wild birds.

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