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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Nature communications
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41942444/ |
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Table of Contents:
- Genomic analysis of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses from Antarctica reveals multiple introductions from South America. Ogrzewalska, Maria Vanstreels, Ralph Eric Thijl Pereira, Elisa Cavalcante Campinas, Emandi Correa Junior, Leonardo Melo, Jennifer Oliveira Macedo, Larissa Appolinario, Luciana Reis Arantes, Ighor Brandao, Martha Lima Pribul, Bruno Rocha Rocha, Claudio Marcos Campos, Fabricio Souza Souza, Ueric José Borges de Galarza, Bruna Paredes Melgarejo, Alanis Silva Trilles, Luciana Moreira, Lucas Machado Degrave, Wim Magalhães, Maithê Moreira, Daniel Vilela, Roberto do Val Motta, Fernando Couto Siqueira, Marilda M Resende, Paola Cristina Animals Genome, Viral Phylogeny Antarctic Regions Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype Influenza in Birds South America Genomics Orthomyxoviridae Infections Birds Whole Genome Sequencing The spread of high pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b into Antarctica poses a major threat to polar wildlife. We report the detection of H5N1 in carcasses of eight species during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 austral summers in the South Shetland Islands: Antarctic shag, Antarctic tern, kelp gull, pintado petrel, Antarctic petrel, skuas, Antarctic fur seal, and southern elephant seal. Whole-genome sequencing, mutational profiling, and phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the viruses detected in these hosts descended from distinct introduction events. One group of strains including complete and partial viral genomes from a gull, skuas, fur seals, an Antarctic tern, and a southern elephant seal clustered with H5N1 strains previously detected in marine mammals in South America and formed a polyphyletic lineage consistent with at least two independent introductions into Antarctica. A second group of strains including complete and partial viral genomes from petrels, shags, and skuas clustered with H5N1 strains previously detected in seabirds and marine mammals in South Georgia and with a previously reported HPAIV detection from Torgersen Island, Antarctic Peninsula. These findings reveal extensive epidemiological connectivity between South America and Antarctica, with South Georgia serving as a "stepping stone" for virus spread in the region.