| Autor: |
Furness RW; MacArthur Green, 95 South Woodside Road, Glasgow G20 6NT, UK.; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK., Gear SC; Foula Ranger Service, Magdala, Foula, Shetland ZE2 9PN, UK., Camphuysen KCJ; Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 1790 Den Burg, The Netherlands., Tyler G; NatureScot, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0LL, UK., de Silva D; Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK., Warren CJ; Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK., James J; Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK., Reid SM; Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK., Banyard AC; Animal and Plant Health Agency, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK. |
| Abstrakt: |
High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) profoundly impacted several seabird populations during the summers of 2021 and 2022. Infection spread rapidly across colonies, causing unprecedented mortality. At Foula, Shetland, 1500 breeding adult great skuas Stercorarius skua , totalling about two tonnes of decomposing virus-laden material, died at the colony in May-July 2022. Carcasses were left where they died as Government policy was not to remove dead birds. The factors influencing risk of further spread of infection are uncertain, but evidence suggests that HPAI can persist in water for many months in cool conditions and may be a major transmission factor for birds living in wetlands. We investigated risk of further spread of infection from water samples collected from under 45 decomposing carcasses and in three freshwater lochs/streams by sampling water in October 2022, by which time the great skua carcasses had rotted to bones, skin, and feathers. No viral genetic material was detected four months after the mortality, suggesting a low risk of seabird infection from the local environment when the seabirds would return the next breeding season. These findings, although based on a relatively small number of water samples, suggest that the high rainfall typical at Shetland probably washed away the virus from the decomposing carcasses. However, limitations to our study need to be taken on board in the design of environmental monitoring at seabird colonies during and immediately after future outbreaks of HPAI. |
