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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H5N1 in Mute Swans (Cygnusolor) in Central BosniaAuthor(s): Teufik Goletić, Abdulah Gagić, Emina ReŠidbegović, Aida Kustura, Aida Kavazović,Vladimir Savić, Timm Harder, Elke Starick, and Senad PraŠovićSource: Avian Diseases Digest, 5(s1):e107-e108. 2010.Published By: American Association of Avian PathologistsDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1637/9082-870509-DIGEST.1URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1637/9082-870509-DIGEST.1

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HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS SUBTYPE H5N1 IN MUTE SWANS (CYGNUS OLOR)IN CENTRAL BOSNIA

TEUFIK GOLETIC, ABDULAH GAGIC, EMINA RESIDBEGOVIC, AIDA KUSTURA, AIDA KAVAZOVIC,VLADIMIR SAVIC, TIMM HARDER, ELKE STARICK, AND SENAD PRASOVIC

Contact Address: teufikg@hotmail.com

Important FindingsIn order to determine the prevalence of avian influenza viruses

(AIV) in wild birds in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), extensivesurveillance was carried out between October 2005 and April 2006.A total of 394 samples representing 41 bird species were examinedfor the presence of influenza A virus. AIV subtype H5N1 wasdetected in 2 mute swans (Cygnus olor). The isolates weredetermined to be highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.This is the first report of HPAI subtype H5N1 in Bosnia andHerzegovina.

Significance of FindingsHPAI virus H5N1 infection in wild birds was observed for the first

time in BIH in February 2006. The identified virus was highly similarto viruses from southern Russia (Astrakhan region) isolated in thesecond half of 2005. Based on this, it is highly likely that theintroduction of HPAIV H5N1 into BIH occurred due to wild birds’

unusual migration routes during harsh winter conditions 2005–2006in southern Russia and Ukraine.

Additional InformationAI is a viral infection of domestic and wild avian species with a

complex ecology involving reassortment of viral gene segments andtransmission among different avian and mammalian species carrying therisk of the emergence of pandemic influenza. Populations of aquaticbirds, especially those from Anseriformes and Charadriiformes ordersare the natural and the most heterogeneous reservoir of influenza Aviruses (IAVs) in which IAVs are maintained as biotypes of lowpathogenicity. Research has shown that the low pathogenicity AIVstrains may, after introduction and circulation in gallinaceous poultrypopulations, mutate into HPAIV. From the plethora of different AIVs,only a few strains of H5 and H7 subtypes have become HPAIV so far.Thecurrently ongoing outbreaks caused by HPAIV of the H5N1 subtype areprimarily of concern for the poultry industry; but as potential zoonoticagents, they present a constant threat to human health as well.

The first case of HPAIV H5N1 in wild birds in Bosnia andHerzegovina was identified in February 2006, after the virus had beendiscovered in many parts of Europe in 2005/2006, including theneighboring countries like Croatia and Slovenia.

VIRUS ALTAMENTE PATOGENICO DE INFLUENZA AVIAR EN CISNES MUDOS (CYGNUS OLOR)EN BOSNIA CENTRAL

TEUFIK GOLETIC, ABDULAH GAGIC, EMINA RESIDBEGOVIC, AIDA KUSTURA, AIDA KAVAZOVIC,VLADIMIR SAVIC, TIMM HARDER, ELKE STARICK, Y SENAD PRASOVIC

Direccion para contactar: teufikg@hotmail.com

Hallazgos ImportantesPara determinar la prevalencia de los virus de Influenza Aviar

(AIV) en aves silvestres en Bosnia y Herzegovina (BIH), se ha llevadoa cabo una vigilancia exhaustiva entre octubre de 2005 y abril de2006. Un total de 394 muestras representando a 41 especies de aves seexaminaron para determinar la presencia del virus de Influenza A.AIV subtipo H5N1, se detecto en 2 cisnes mudos (Cygnus olor). Losaislamientos se determinaron como el virus de Influenza Aviaraltamente patogenico (HPAI). Este fue el primer reporte del HPAIsubtipo H5N1 en Bosnia y Herzegovina.

Significancia de los HallazgosLa infeccion del virus HPAI H5N1 en aves silvestres se observo por

primera vez en BIH en febrero de 2006. El virus identificado fuealtamente similar a los virus del sur de Rusia (region de Astrakan)aislados en la segunda mitad del 2005. Basandose en esto, es

altamente probable que la introduccion del HPAIV H5N1 en BIHocurriera debido a rutas migratorias inusuales de aves silvestresdurante las fuertes condiciones invernales del 2005–2006 al sur deRusia y Ucrania.

Informacion AdicionalLa Influenza Aviar (AI) es una infeccion viral de especies aviares

domesticas y silvestres con una ecologıa compleja que incluye elreacomodo de segmentos del gen viral y su transmision entre lasdiferentes especies aviares y mamıferas llevando el riesgo delsurgimiento de una influenza pandemica. Las poblaciones de avesacuaticas, especialmente aquellas de las ordenes de los Anseriformesy Charadriiformes son los reservorios naturales mas heterogeneos delos virus de Influenza A (IAVs) en los que los IAVs se mantienencomo biotipos de baja patogenicidad. La investigacion ha demostradoque las cepas del virus de Influenza Aviar de baja patogenicidadpueden mutar a HPAIV, despues de su introduccion y circulacion enlas poblaciones de avicultura gallinacea. De la pletora de diferentesAIVs, solo algunas cepas de los subtipos H5 y H7 se han convertidoen HPAIV. Los brotes que actualmente estan presentandose

Copyright E 2010, American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. 1933-5334 online

Copyright E 2010, American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. 1933-5334 online

Summarized from Avian Diseases, Vol. 54, No. 1 Supplement, 2010, Pages 496–501

causados por HPAIV subtipo H5N1 son principalmente unapreocupacion para la industria avıcola; pero como agenteszoonoticos potenciales representan tambien una amenaza constantepara la salud humana.

El primer caso de HPAIV H5N1 en aves silvestres en Bosnia yHerzegovina fue identificado en febrero del 2006, despues de que elvirus fue descubierto en muchas partes de Europa en 2005/2006,incluyendo los paıses vecinos como Croacia y Eslovenia.

H5N1 HPAI virus in mute swans in BIH