Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.55.6.6

Avian influenza in wild canids: an animal and public health threat

Ivana Lojkić orcid.org/0000-0003-1559-9020 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Andreja Jungić orcid.org/0000-0002-9497-9904 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska *
Marina Prišlin orcid.org/0000-0002-1169-2060 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dinko Novosel orcid.org/0000-0003-2602-8696 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Šimun Naletilić orcid.org/0009-0002-5805-9892 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Jelena Prpić ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Iva Kilvain orcid.org/0009-0003-3908-3528 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut-Veterinarski zavod Rijeka, Hrvatska
Tibor Andreanszky orcid.org/0009-0003-4785-9613 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut-Veterinarski zavod Rijeka, Hrvatska
Marica Lolić orcid.org/0000-0002-7325-3549 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut-Veterinarski zavod Vinkovci, Hrvatska
Mario Škrivanko orcid.org/0000-0002-6638-0507 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut-Veterinarski zavod Vinkovci, Hrvatska
Lorena Jemeršić orcid.org/0000-0002-8379-4787 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Vladimir Savić orcid.org/0000-0003-0398-5346 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Centar za peradarstvo, Zagreb, Hrvatska

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

The risk of cross-species transmission of infectious diseases and zoonoses has increased due to the adaptive evolution of pathogens and anthropogenic landscape changes. A current example is the avian influenza (AI) virus, which can infect not only avian species but also mammals. In these species, infections are often associated with severe neurological symptoms. AI viruses are primarily not well adapted to mammalian hosts and are not efficiently transmitted among them. To accomplish this, AI viruses must acquire adaptations or mutations that contribute to replication efficiency and virulence in mammals. The exact combination and interaction of mutations that result in optimal adaptation to mammals is still unknown and may vary between host species and virus subtypes. The globally increasing number of infected birds with highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) increases the likelihood of contact between birds and mammals, especially wildlife. One reason for the adaptation of HPAI to mammals is the
exposure of wild mammals to infected birds or their carcasses. According to the current data, wild canids, such as red foxes, are among the most infected mammals. However, infections caused by neurotropic viruses, as well as HPAI, have been scarcely studied or not at all in jackals. Since jackals are scavengers that have spread rapidly in Europe and Croatia in recent years, surveillance of AI virus infection in these canids is of the utmost importance. Furthermore, interactions between wild carnivores and domestic animals are of concern, as infections with HPAI pose a public health threat due to the increased risk of mammalian adaptation.

Keywords

influenza; HPAI; wild canids; red fox; golden jackal

Hrčak ID:

315616

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/315616

Publication date:

21.4.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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