Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in wild rats in Egypt during 2023

• Published in: Emerging microbes & infections Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 2396874
• Main Authors: Kutkat, Omnia, Gomaa, Mokhtar, Moatasim, Yassmin, El Taweel, Ahmed, Kamel, Mina Nabil, El Sayes, Mohamed, GabAllah, Mohamed, Kandeil, Ahmed, McKenzie, Pamela P., Webby, Richard J., Kayali, Ghazi, Ali, Mohamed Ahmed, El-Shesheny, Rabeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.12.2024; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animals; Animals, Wild - virology; Antibodies; Avian flu; Birds; Dairy cattle; egypt; Egypt - epidemiology; Emerging Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Infections; Genes; Genomes; Genotype; HPAI; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - classification; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - isolation & purification; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - pathogenicity; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Influenza in Birds - virology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - veterinary; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - virology; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Poultry; rat; Rats - virology; Research centers; Research Letter; surveillance; Viruses; Egypt; HPAI; surveillance; egypt; rat; Influenza
• ISSN: 2222-1751; 2222-1751
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2396874

We detected highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in wild rats collected from a rural area in Giza, Egypt, near poultry farms, markets, and backyard flocks. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the virus from the rats belonged to clade 2.3.4.4b, which has been the predominant virus genotype circulating in Egypt and worldwide since 2021-2022. Active surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild and domestic mammals is recommended to prevent further spread to mammals and humans.