No evidence of avian influenza antibodies in two species of raptor nestlings inhabiting Norway

• Published in: BMC Veterinary Research
• Main Authors: Megan Marie Lee, Veerle L. B. Jaspers, Mari E. Løseth, Nathalie Briels, Torgeir Nygård, Jan Ove Bustnes, Courtney A. Waugh
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Avian influenza; Birds of prey; Norway; Epizootic event; Veterinary medicine; SF600-1100; Accipiter gentilis; Haliaeetus albicilla; Northern Goshawk; White-tailed eagle
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-2133-0; https://doaj.org/article/06c2c421fa7049ff9214c8cfb0646bce

Abstract Background Since 2016, incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b have caused unprecedented clinical signs and mortality in white-tailed eagles (WTE; Haliaeetus albicilla) across Europe and have been found to be infecting other raptor species, such as the northern goshawk (NG; Accipiter gentilis). Before this study, no screening of Norwegian raptors had been undertaken. Results Plasma samples from 43 white-tailed eagle and 29 northern goshawk nestlings, from several locations across Norway were screened for antibodies to avian influenza viruses. No antibodies, and thus, no evidence of AIV exposure, were found in these Norwegian raptors. No clinical signs of AIV were observed in 43 white tailed eagles and 29 northern goshawks. Conclusions There are currently no indications that white-tailed eagles and northern goshawks inhabiting Norway are threatened by the recent HPAIV outbreaks in other areas of Europe. Ongoing monitoring should, however, be maintained to detect potential future outbreaks.