Wild bird migration across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A transmission route for highly pathogenic H5N1
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Abstract
Background
Qinghai Lake in central China has been at the center of debate on whether wild birds play a role in circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1. In 2005, an unprecedented epizootic at Qinghai Lake killed more than 6000 migratory birds including over 3000 bar-headed geese (Anser indicus). H5N1 subsequently spread to Europe and Africa, and in following years has re-emerged in wild birds along the Central Asia flyway several times.
Methodology/Principal Findings
To better understand the potential involvement of wild birds in the spread of H5N1, we studied the movements of bar-headed geese marked with GPS satellite transmitters at Qinghai Lake in relation to virus outbreaks and disease risk factors. We discovered a previously undocumented migratory pathway between Qinghai Lake and the Lhasa Valley of Tibet where 93% of the 29 marked geese overwintered. From 2003–2009, sixteen outbreaks in poultry or wild birds were confirmed on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the majority were located within the migratory pathway of the geese. Spatial and temporal concordance between goose movements and three potential H5N1 virus sources (poultry farms, a captive bar-headed goose facility, and H5N1 outbreak locations) indicated ample opportunities existed for virus spillover and infection of migratory geese on the wintering grounds. Their potential as a vector of H5N1 was supported by rapid migration movements of some geese and genetic relatedness of H5N1 virus isolated from geese in Tibet and Qinghai Lake.
Conclusions/Significance
This is the first study to compare phylogenetics of the virus with spatial ecology of its host, and the combined results suggest that wild birds play a role in the spread of H5N1 in this region. However, the strength of the evidence would be improved with additional sequences from both poultry and wild birds on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau where H5N1 has a clear stronghold.
Publication type | Article |
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Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | Wild bird migration across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A transmission route for highly pathogenic H5N1 |
Series title | PLoS ONE |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0017622 |
Volume | 6 |
Issue | 3 |
Year Published | 2011 |
Language | English |
Publisher | Public Library of Science |
Publisher location | San Francisco, CA |
Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Western Ecological Research Center |
Description | e17622; 14 p. |
Country | China |
Other Geospatial | Qinghai Lake |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |