From December 28, 2023, to January 09, 2024, an outbreak of HPAI (Outbreak ID: ob_129664) among swans occurred around Lake Karakol near the coast of the Caspian Sea in Mangistau Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan (Latitude: 43.
More...From December 28, 2023, to January 09, 2024, an outbreak of HPAI (Outbreak ID: ob_129664) among swans occurred around Lake Karakol near the coast of the Caspian Sea in Mangistau Oblast, Republic of Kazakhstan (Latitude: 43.438; Longitude: 51.3331). A total of 227 dead carcasses of mute swans were detected, which were tested by the National Reference Veterinary Center using PCR to detect subtype H5 (N untyped) of the avian influenza virus [WAHIS, report]. For further detailed investigation, 12 samples of pathological organs from four dead swans were sent to the International Center for Vaccinology of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU). All study procedures were approved by the Commission on Bioethics of KazNARU (dated 15 January 2024).
Based on virologic studies, hemagglutinating agents were detected in the hemagglutination assay [WOAH, 2021] in 9 out of 12 pathologic organ samples (lungs, trachea, liver, heart) of four swans on 10-day-old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). In Kazakhstan-Japan Innovation Center of KazNARU, further genetic analysis of one specimen (ID # 1-S24R-2, swan #2, lung, first passage in ECEs) showed that the isolated strain A/mute swan/Mangystau/1-S24R-2/2024 belongs to avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b, with the HPAI pathotype confirmed by the PLREKRRKRGLF cleavage site in HA gene [Tabynov, 2006]. Less...