ACAP Small Grant 2023-04

Disease Risk Analysis of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza for ACAP Species

Project Leader: Patricia Pereira Serafini, Federal University of Santa Catarina and National Centre for Wild Birds Conservation and Research – CEMAVE/ICMBio/MMA

Co-investigators: Ralph E. T. Vanstreels, Latin America Program, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, USA (based in Patagonia, Argentina) Marcela Uhart, Latin America Program, Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, University of California - Davis, USA (based in Patagonia, Argentina) Meagan Dewar, Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia, Australia Michelle Wille, Centre for Pathogen Genomics, Department of Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Australia Brett Gartrell, Massey University, New Zealand Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Charles Darwin Foundation, Ecuador (based at Galapagos Islands) Jane Younger, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Australia Jennifer Black, Environment Manager, United Kingdom Laura Roberts, University of Pretoria/ Western Cape provincial government, South Africa

Amount awarded: AUD 20,000

Since 2021, HPAI strains of the H5N1 subtype originating in southeast Asia, have undergone unprecedented global spread among wild birds (Wille & Barr 2022). These viruses caused a series of outbreaks throughout southern Africa, Europe and North America, causing the death of 10,000s of wild aquatic birds (terns, cormorants, swans, cranes, gannets, skuas, etc.), and also substantial numbers of terrestrial scavengers/predators (vultures, hawks, foxes, etc.). When these viruses spread to South America by the end of 2022, unprecedented mortality of seabirds and marine mammals ensued, with an estimated death toll of 500,000 seabirds (boobies, pelicans, cormorants, terns, penguins, etc.) and 20,000 marine mammals (sea lions, otters, dolphins, fur seals, elephant seals) (Breed et al. 2023; Leguia et al. 2023).

The introduction of HPAI into Southern Ocean populations poses a significant risk for a new Antarctic/sub-Antarctic route of transmission into Australasia/Oceania ACAP populations.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature recommends a method known as Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis (DRA), a systematic process used to evaluate the risks associated with the introduction/spread/impact of diseases in wildlife populations and to inform decision-making for conservation and management (OIE & IUCN 2014). We propose employing DRA methodology to evaluate the risks posed by HPAI to ACAP species, but will take a modified and simplified approach, given its imminent threat and limited time to respond.

Although general biosecurity guidelines for wildlife professionals were recently published by the WOAH/FAO Network of Expertise on Animal Influenza (OFFLU) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), these are broad in scope and might not be sufficiently specific and/or intelligible to professionals handling ACAP species or operating within their habitat (protected area managers, tourist guides, onboard observers, etc.). Furthermore, when confronted with suspected HPAI cases at remote sites these professionals often do not have access to basic knowledge or materials necessary to document and investigate these cases. We propose developing video tutorials and field kits that will address this gap and contribute to promoting human safety and preventing human-mediated spread of HPAI viruses to ACAP species.

Objectives:

1) Conduct a simplified qualitative Disease Risk Analysis (DRA) to evaluate the risk posed from HPAI to ACAP species.

2) Produce tutorials (information cards, step-by-step protocols, and videos) to promote human safety and prevent human-mediated spread of HPAI viruses during field activities with ACAP species.

3) Design and deploy field kits that allow field teams to safely obtain data and biological samples from suspected HPAI cases in ACAP species at remote sites.

The ultimate purpose of the project is to improve our capability for mitigation of the impacts of HPAI on ACAP species, increasing capacity for early detection and response, and efforts to minimize spread. Furthermore, DRA will assist in identifying the knowledge gaps that constrain our ability to design and implement prevention strategies, in turn allowing us to focus future research efforts. In parallel, the development of practical tools (instructional media and field kits), that are specifically designed for field teams working with ACAP species, is an important step to ensure that several of these disease surveillance and mitigation strategies can be effectively implemented, protecting human health and reducing the risk of human-mediated spread of the virus.

See also PaCSWG8 Doc 04.