2026-05-27 ロードアイランド大学（URI）
Johanna Harvey’s new paper in Wildlife Monographs describes how circulating avian influenza viruses show an expanded set of susceptible hosts and higher transmission rates.
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/05/of-feathers-and-flu-identifying-data-gaps-in-bird-flu-host-dynamics-to-help-conserve-vulnerable-species/
- https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wmon.70015
羽毛とインフルエンザ：鳥インフルエンザの宿主動態におけるデータギャップを特定し、野生生物保護の優先順位付けを行う 問題と不満: インフルエンザウイルス感染症の感染症の特定と医療保護の優先順位 Feathers and flu: identifying data gaps in avian influenza host dynamics to prioritize wildlife conservation Plumas y gripe: identificación de datos faltantes en la dinámica de hospedadores de la influenza aviar para priorizar la conservación de la vida silvestre
Johanna A. Harvey, Matthew Gonnerman, Shenglai Yin, Cody M. Kent, Joshua Cullen, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Jonathan B. Dain, Nichola J. Hill, Diann J. Prosser, Jennifer M. Mullinax
Wildlife Monographs Published: 15 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/wmon.70015
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) have had disastrous, worldwide effects on wild birds and domestic poultry since the emergence of the A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/GD/96) lineage. The currently circulating H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has an expanded set of susceptible hosts, including many migratory wild birds, and is associated with higher transmission rates, increased susceptibility among wild bird hosts, and a greater number of wildlife reservoirs. Certain wild bird life-history strategies and behaviors have been suggested to explain avian hosts’ susceptibility and exposure to HPAIV. These biological traits include gregariousness, such as colonial nesting and mixed flock foraging, predation or scavenging on wild birds, and association with aquatic habitats. Variation in host infection responses (e.g., infectability, shedding rates and duration, mortality rate, antibody development) informs the overall infection risk across avian species, yet the specific role of biological traits is often inconsistent and unclear across taxa. Moreover, the interactions and potential compounding effects among these biological traits remain largely unknown. To develop a more holistic understanding of cumulative risk across bird species, we integrate existing information on infection risk factors (i.e., susceptibility, immunological response, and behavioral traits) into a qualitative multivariate analysis. This approach enabled us to examine how infection risk factors relate to biological traits (e.g., phylogeny, physiology, behavior, species range) and to begin disentangling their complex interactions. We quantified and summarized these risk factors across host species and qualitatively ranked species by their viral responses along a proposed HPAIV response continuum, guided by expectations of traits and metrics associated with competence or vulnerability to HPAIV. In doing so, we aimed to better understand how viral responses and biological traits synergistically interact to influence cumulative risk across wild bird species. This work broadly expands on the previous avian influenza literature, which has focused on Anseriformes and Charadriiformes as primary viral reservoirs. We tie our findings to effective disease management responses with links to risk components, including descriptions of potential surveillance strategies applied to research and One Health goals, as well as a fuller understanding of how resources may be better deployed for rapid response when spillovers do inevitably occur. Additionally, we identified numerous areas where vital epidemiological information is lacking to best characterize the spread of these viruses. Ultimately, this improved understanding will help identify and inform disease management needs and decision making.
