Co-circulation of H5N1 and H5N6 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in migratory birds at a coastal wintering site in China.
7 affiliations
- 1Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
- 2College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, People's Republic of China.
- 3College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, People's Republic of China.
- 4Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.
- 5College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
- 6Fujian Minjiang River Estuary Wetland National Nature Reserve Administrative Office, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.
- 7Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
Since 2020, H5Nx high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) belonging to hemagglutinin (HA) clade 2.3.4.4b have undergone widespread dispersal in wild birds, posing substantial threats to global poultry populations and mammals worldwide. In this study, we report the co-circulation of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 and H5N6 HPAIVs associated with mortality events in Anseriformes and Charadriiformes at a coastal wintering site in Fujian Province, China. H5N1 and H5N6 viruses were identified in four species of waterfowl (Bean Goose, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, and Eurasian Curlew). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these H5N1 and H5N6 isolates were clade 2.3.4.4b strains circulating within Eurasia and lacked known mammalian adaptation markers in key proteins. The infected birds exhibited severe systemic multi-organ pathology, with the most pronounced damage observed in the lungs. H5N6 and H5N1 viruses caused lethal injury in BALB/c mice, with H5N1 leading to systemic infection. Environmental sampling also revealed the presence of H5N1 HPAIVs alongside low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) such as H3N1 and H6N1. Our findings highlight the complex and dynamic transmission patterns of H5 HPAIV in wild bird populations and the substantial threat they pose to mammals, underscoring the critical importance of sustained surveillance for high pathogenicity avian influenza in wild birds.
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BibTeX
@article{hu2026cocirculation,
title = {{Co-circulation of H5N1 and H5N6 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in migratory birds at a coastal wintering site in China.}},
author = {Xinyu Hu and Haiyang Xiang and Wenhao Wang and Yunyi Kong and Hongrui Liang and Min Li and Yaqi Miao and Huan Han and Zhongxing Sun and Mingyuan Yu and Peng Peng and Jujuan Gao and Guogang Zhang and Yu Xu and Yuanguo Li and Yuwei Gao},
journal = {Emerging microbes \& infections},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/22221751.2026.2746274},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902987},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Co-circulation of H5N1 and H5N6 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in migratory birds at a coastal wintering site in China.
AU - Xinyu Hu
AU - Haiyang Xiang
AU - Wenhao Wang
AU - Yunyi Kong
AU - Hongrui Liang
AU - Min Li
AU - Yaqi Miao
AU - Huan Han
AU - Zhongxing Sun
AU - Mingyuan Yu
AU - Peng Peng
AU - Jujuan Gao
AU - Guogang Zhang
AU - Yu Xu
AU - Yuanguo Li
AU - Yuwei Gao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Emerging microbes & infections
DO - 10.1080/22221751.2026.2746274
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902987
AB - Since 2020, H5Nx high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) belonging to hemagglutinin (HA) clade 2.3.4.4b have undergone widespread dispersal in wild birds, posing substantial threats to global poultry populations and mammals worldwide. In this study, we report the co-circulation of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 and H5N6 HPAIVs associated with mortality events in Anseriformes and Charadriiformes at a coastal wintering site in Fujian Province, China. H5N1 and H5N6 viruses were identified in four species of waterfowl (Bean Goose, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, and Eurasian Curlew). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these H5N1 and H5N6 isolates were clade 2.3.4.4b strains circulating within Eurasia and lacked known mammalian adaptation markers in key proteins. The infected birds exhibited severe systemic multi-organ pathology, with the most pronounced damage observed in the lungs. H5N6 and H5N1 viruses caused lethal injury in BALB/c mice, with H5N1 leading to systemic infection. Environmental sampling also revealed the presence of H5N1 HPAIVs alongside low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) such as H3N1 and H6N1. Our findings highlight the complex and dynamic transmission patterns of H5 HPAIV in wild bird populations and the substantial threat they pose to mammals, underscoring the critical importance of sustained surveillance for high pathogenicity avian influenza in wild birds.
SN - 2222-1751
ER -