Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infections in 2 Free-Ranging Black Bears (Ursus americanus), Quebec, Canada

作者：Benjamin T. Jakobek, Yohannes Berhane, Marie-Soleil Nadeau, Carissa Embury‐Hyatt, Oliver Lung, Wanhong Xu, Stéphane Lair · 发表于：Emerging infectious diseases · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.3201/eid2910.230548 · 被引用次数：39 · 研究领域：Influenza Virus Research Studies、Respiratory viral infections research、Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology

S ince its arrival in North America during De- cember 2021, the Eurasian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b, has been associated with a high mortality rate for wild birds all over the continent (1).Affected bird species include mainly waterfowl and colonial nesting marine birds, as well as scavenger birds, such as gulls, eagles, vultures, and corvids (2,3).As with several other subtypes, HPAI H5N1 can potentially infect persons, although clinical cases in humans have been limited (4).However, this virus has been shown to be pathogenic for different species of wild mammals, including red fox, striped skunk, mink, raccoon, and seals (5-7).Infections with influenza A(H1N1) viruses have been described in captive sloth bears (8).We report and describe infections by HPAI H5N1 virus in 2 black bears (Ursus americanus) found in Quebec, Canada, during the summer of 2022. The StudyTwo young-of-the-year black bear cubs (likely born in January-February) were observed wandering on a road within the Forillon National Park in Gaspé, Quebec, Canada (48°51′39′′N, 64°13′26′′W), on June 14, 2022.The cubs, which were active and quite vocal, were not attended by their dam.Shortly afterward, an adult female bear with unusual behavior was reported ≈200 m from the cubs.This female was wandering between vehicles, fell into a river, and began circling.Upon the arrival of park officials, the animal was in lateral recumbency and convulsing in a ditch.Because of t...