During the LX Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA 60) organized by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), Chile announced Positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) found in Antarctica, marking milestone in wildlife health research in this area.
Positive cases of avian influenza found in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Antarctic cormorants (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis) for the first time, Thanks to the collaboration between the Millennium Biodiversity Institute for Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (Millennium BASE Institute) and the French company PONANT, under the guidance of Dr. Elie Poulin and Dr. Juliana Vianna.
The samples were collected from 13 breeding colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula and the west coast of the White Continent with the support of the ship Commander Charcot. Highly sensitive PCR analysis performed by Dr. Fabiola León detected 9 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) is present in penguins and cormorants, the first time these species have been recorded in Antarctica.
Additionally, unusual die-offs of skuas were reported in early March near the Czech Johann Gregor Mendel base on James Ross Island. After corresponding sampling, it was confirmed that the collected samples were positive for avian influenza virus.
These findings are INACH collaborative project “Identification and characterization of HPAIV H5N1 in Antarctica”, led by Dr. Marcelo González. The tests were performed by veterinarians specializing in molecular diagnostics at the Escudero site, under the guidance of Dr. Víctor Neira of the Laboratory of Animal Virology (FAVET) of the University of Chile.