Earlier this week, Chile announced the detection of positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Antarctica during the LX Antarctic scientific expedition (ECA 60) organized by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH).
The first detection of positive cases of avian influenza in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Antarctic cormorants (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) marks a milestone in wildlife health research in the region. The discovery was made by the Millennium BASE Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (Millennium BASE Institute) in collaboration with the French company PONANT, with the participation of an international research team led by Dr. Elie Poulin and Dr. Juliana Vianna. In collaboration with Dr. Céline LeBohec of the University of Montpellier, France.
The samples were obtained with international support from the ship “Le Commandant Charcot” at 13 breeding colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula and the west coast of the White Continent. Dr. Fabiola León, a researcher at the Universidad Católica de Chile and the Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory of the University of California, conducted a high-sensitivity PCR analysis and detected 9 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in penguins and cormorants, the first time these two cases have been documented. species all live in Antarctica.
In addition to this epidemiological surveillance work, national researchers also conducted surveillance near the Czech Johann Gregor Mendel base on James Ross Island. In early March, unusual deaths of skuas were reported here, which alerted a team of virologists from the National Antarctic Science Program (Procien) at the INACH Professor Giulio Escudero Base. The equipment was transferred to the Chilean Navy ship Janequeo for corresponding sampling. On Tuesday, it was finally confirmed that the samples collected tested positive for the avian influenza virus.
These analyzes are part of the INACH collaborative project “Identification and Characterization of HPAIV H5N1 in Antarctica”, led by Dr. Marcelo González, Head of the INACH Scientific Department. The tests were performed at the Escudero site by veterinarians specializing in molecular diagnostics, led by Dr. Víctor Neira of the Laboratory of Animal Virology (FAVET) of the University of Chile.
Since the beginning of surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in birds in Antarctica, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) has developed a project to monitor viruses in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, and this work is ongoing and systematic from Chile. conduct.
These findings highlight the importance of collaboration and scientific research in Antarctica to understand and mitigate risks associated with bird disease in the region.
INACH is a technical organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with full autonomy in matters related to the nature of Antarctic science, technology and communication. INACH adheres to national Antarctic policy, encourages the development of excellent research, participates effectively in the Antarctic Treaty System and related forums, strengthens the Magellanic Islands as a gateway to the White Continent, and carries out actions to disseminate Antarctic knowledge to citizens. INACH organizes the National Antarctic Science Program (PROCIEN).