Biology subjects

Dewar, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Dewar, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

The expanding avian influenza panzootic: skua die-off in Antarctica

High pathogenicity avian influenza virus of subtype H5 (H5 HPAIV), clade 2.3.4.4b, invaded Antarctica in 2023. Here we show that H5 HPAIV caused high mortality in a breeding colony of skuas at one of ten sites we visited in March 2024. By combined virological and pathological analyses, we found that H5 HPAIV caused multi-organ necrosis and rapid death in skuas. Taken together with recent data, skuas in Antarctica are at risk of continued mortality from H5 HPAIV infection, threatening their already small populations. Conversely, because of their wide distribution and ecological relevance, skuas may play a substantial role in spread of the virus across Antarctica. Transdisciplinary surveillance is needed in coming years to monitor the impact of this poultry-origin disease on Antarcticas unique wildlife.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Long distance avian migrants fail to bring 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1 into Australia for a second year in a row

There is an ongoing and profound burden of lineage 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on wildlife and poultry, globally. Herein we report the continued absence of HPAI and antibodies against lineage 2.3.4.4b HPAI from October - December 2023, in migratory birds shortly after their arrival in Australia. Given the ever-changing phenotype of this virus, worldwide studies on the occurrence, or here absence of the virus, are of critical importance to understand the virus dispersal and incursion risk and development of response strategies.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

No evidence for highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in the Antarctic region during the austral summer 2022/23

The current highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 panzootic has substantial impacts on wild birds and marine mammals. Although major outbreaks occurred in South America, incursion to Antarctica emerged late in the breeding season of 2023/2024 and was confined the wider region of the Antarctic Peninsula. To infer potential underlying processes, we compiled H5N1 surveillance from Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic Islands prior to the first confirmed cases.

microbiology↗