Emergence and interstate spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in dairy cattle in the United States
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses cross species barriers and have the potential to cause pandemics. In North America, HPAI A(H5N1) viruses related to the goose/Guangdong 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin phylogenetic clade have infected wild birds, poultry, and mammals. Our genomic analysis and epidemiological investigation showed that a reassortment event in wild bird populations preceded a single wild bird-to-cattle transmission episode. The movement of asymptomatic or presymptomatic cattle has likely played a role in the spread of HPAI within the United States dairy herd. Some molecular markers that may lead to changes in transmission efficiency and phenotype were detected at low frequencies. Continued transmission of H5N1 HPAI within dairy cattle increases the risk for infection and subsequent spread of the virus to human populations.
Authors
- Elisha Anna Frye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7784-6771)
- Alexey Markin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3280-9050)
- Ganwu Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6370-9573)
- Sanket Wagle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8735-6816)
- Carl R. Hutter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6381-6339)
- Kevin R. Snekvik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3866-5369)
- Megan N. Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4997-985X)
- Amy K. Swinford
- Garrett M. Janzen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3103-1427)
- Steven M. Lakin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4277-746X)
- Mary Lea Killian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8613-2009)
- David L. Suarez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4582-6116)
- Kristina Lantz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1720-1832)
- Amy L. Vincent Baker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4953-7285)
- Blake T. Inderski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9874-3149)
- Diego G. Diel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3237-8940)
- Tavis K. Anderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-5535)
- Mia Kim Torchetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2649-0146)
- Kiril M. Dimitrov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-4492)
- Alexis C. Thompson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4405-5313)
- Suelee Robbe‐Austerman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3794-3040)
- Sriram Vijendran
- Thao-Quyen Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2195-301X)
- Sara C. Ahola
- Kammy R. Johnson
- Drew R. Magstadt
- Stacey Schwabenlander
Institutions
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (US)
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- United States Department of Agriculture (US)
- Iowa State University (US)
- West Texas A&M University (US)
- Cornell University (US)
- Wellborn Road Veterinary Medical Center (US)
- U.S. National Poultry Research Center (US)
- National Animal Disease Center (US)
- Washington State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-04-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adq0900
- Citations
- 106
- Primary Topic
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 143.55