Investigation of the H5N1 virus in milk samples in Brazil

• Grant number: 25/03517-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Gregory
• Grantee: Fernanda Amaral Salomão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Influenza A viruses (IAV), belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family, can infect various species, including birds and mammals. In recent years, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has shown significant geographic expansion and adaptation to new hosts, and has been recently identified in dairy herds in the United States. This infection has been associated with clinical signs such as mild digestive and respiratory alterations, severe viral mastitis, leading to poor milk quality and reduced milk production, as well as the risk of zoonotic transmission and subsequent transmission between humans. Therefore, it is important to investigate the potential presence of the virus in Brazilian herds, considering its potential economic impacts, risks to animal and public health, and the scarcity of studies on its occurrence in the country. This study aims to investigate the presence of H5N1 collected from dairy farms in Brazil. The samples will undergo viral RNA extraction and be analyzed by RT-qPCR for the presence of the M gene of IAV, with subsequent sequencing of positive samples for phylogenetic analysis. The results may contribute to the development of effective strategies for controlling and preventing the spread of the virus in Brazil.