Neurotropic Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Red Foxes, Northern Germany

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Dec;29(12):2509-2512. doi: 10.3201/eid2912.230938.

Abstract

In a 1-year survey of wild terrestrial predators in northern Germany, we found that 5 of 110 foxes were infected with contemporary avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses, forming a temporal cluster during January‒March 2023. Encephalitis and strong cerebral virus replication but only sporadic mammalian-adaptive viral polymerase basic 2 protein E627K mutations were seen.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Foxes
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype* / genetics
  • Influenza in Birds* / epidemiology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Viral Proteins