TRACKING OF AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS IN MIGRATORY BIRDS BY GEOLOCATORS AND POTENTIAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF VIRAL SPREAD IN BRAZIL

• Grant number: 23/03041-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Jansen de Araujo
• Grantee: Jansen de Araujo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/09139-6 - Characterization of the influenza A virus by the molecular method and sequencing, BP.IC

Abstract

Currently we witness the emergence of viral diseases as never reported before. At thispoint, we had follow new epidemic in birds with the recent discovery of subtypes of avian influenzavirus (AIV) H5N2, H5N8 and also recombinant H5N1 of highly pathogenic (HPAI) in Washingtonin the United States, detected in wild and domestic birds. These viruses initially infected wild birds,and after reached the farms, in fact causing great damage to the country. Two crucial pointsencourages us to develop this unique project: the first point is that the North American migratoryroutes are extremely related to the arrival of millions birds every year in South America; Second, itis that the Brazilian poultry industry took a long time to reach the level of excellence in production,and is currently a highly successful activity in Brazil, and we are among the three largest producersof poultry meat in the world ranking. In previous work carried by our laboratory, we confirmed thepresence of AIV in Brazil, both in the North and the South of country, which is one of the largestcenters of Brazilian poultry producer. These viruses detected are low pathogenic, H11N9 and H6N1subtypes, were found in migratory birds showing great resemblance to North American virus,probably stemmed from birds breeding areas in the northern hemisphere. This project aims, followthe migration routes traced by geolocators deployed in birds, to detect AIV using molecular tests onfield, followed by NGS sequence, evaluate the pathogenicity in animal models (ferrets). Finally,define the main points potentially critical to the spread of these viruses in the country. (AU)