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Highly pathogenic avian influenza causes mass mortality in sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis breeding colonies across north-western Europe
Knief, U.; Bregnballe, T.; Alfarwi, I.; Ballmann, M.Z.; Brenninkmeijer, A.; Bzoma, S.; Chabrolle, A.; Dimmlich, J.; Engel, E.; Fijn, R.; Fischer, K.; Haelterlein, B.; Haupt, M.; Hennig, V.; Herrmann, C.; In't Veld, R.; Kirchhoff, E.; Kristersson, M.; Kuehn, S.; Larsson, K.; Larsson, R.; Lawton, N.; Leopold, M.; Lilipaly, S.; Lock, L.; Marty, R.; Matheve, H.; Meissner, W.; Morrison, P.; Newton, S.; Olofsson, P.; Packmor, F.; Pedersen, K.T.; Redfern, C.; Scarton, F.; Schenk, F.; Scher, O.; Serra, L.; Sibille, A.; Smith, J.; Smith, W.; Sterup, J.; Stienen, E.; Strassner, V.; Valle, R.G.; van Bemmelen, R.S.A.; Veen, J.; Vervaeke, M.; Weston, E.; Wojcieszek, M.; Courtens, W. (2024). Highly pathogenic avian influenza causes mass mortality in sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis breeding colonies across north-western Europe. Bird. Cons. Intern. 34: e6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270923000400
In: Bird Conservation International. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. ISSN 0959-2709; e-ISSN 1474-0001
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 398902 [ download pdf ]
Keyword
    Sterna sandvicensis Latham, 1787 [WoRMS]
Author keywords
    Avian flu; Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus; HPAI; Seabird conservation; Sero-surveillance; Wildlife disease management
Authors  Top 
  • Knief, U.
  • Bregnballe, T.
  • Alfarwi, I.
  • Ballmann, M.Z.
  • Brenninkmeijer, A.
  • Bzoma, S.
  • Chabrolle, A.
  • Dimmlich, J.
  • Engel, E.
  • Fijn, R.
  • Fischer, K.
  • Haelterlein, B.
  • Haupt, M.
  • Hennig, V.
  • Herrmann, C.
  • In't Veld, R.
  • Kirchhoff, E.
  • Kristersson, M.
  • Kuehn, S.
  • Larsson, K.
  • Larsson, R.
  • Lawton, N.
  • Leopold, M.
  • Lilipaly, S.
  • Lock, L.
  • Marty, R.
  • Matheve, H.
  • Meissner, W.
  • Morrison, P.
  • Newton, S.
  • Olofsson, P.
  • Packmor, F.
  • Pedersen, K.T.
  • Redfern, C.
  • Scarton, F.
  • Schenk, F.
  • Scher, O.
  • Serra, L.
  • Sibille, A.
  • Smith, J.
  • Smith, W.
  • Sterup, J.
  • Stienen, E.
  • Strassner, V.
  • Valle, R.G.
  • van Bemmelen, R.S.A.
  • Veen, J.
  • Vervaeke, M.
  • Weston, E.
  • Wojcieszek, M.
  • Courtens, W.
Abstract

    In 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b became enzootic and caused mass mortality in Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis and other seabird species across north-western Europe. We present data on the characteristics of the spread of the virus between and within breeding colonies and the number of dead adult Sandwich Terns recorded at breeding sites throughout north-western Europe. Within two months of the first reported mortalities, 20,531 adult Sandwich Terns were found dead, which is >17% of the total north-western European breeding population. This is probably an under-representation of total mortality, as many carcasses are likely to have gone unnoticed and unreported. Within affected colonies, almost all chicks died. After the peak of the outbreak, in a colony established by late breeders, 25.7% of tested adults showed immunity to HPAI subtype H5. Removal of carcasses was associated with lower levels of mortality at affected colonies. More research on the sources and modes of transmission, incubation times, effective containment, and immunity is urgently needed to combat this major threat for colonial seabirds.

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