17 March 2017:
Sampling of 299 Southern Giant Petrel in Antarctica has revealed the first evidence of avian influenza virus H4N7 for this species in one of the samples. Viral connections between North America and the Antarctic Peninsula were evidenced through the genetic similarity of the sequenced virus. A geolocator was retrieved from the individual infected Petrel and revealed that it migrated in the non-breeding season to an area near South America and the Falkland Islands. This area is coincident with the migratory routes of several species in which avian influenza virus has been detected. As a result the authors point to monitoring the Southern Giant Petrel as a means to determine potential points of contact with other coastal seabird species and the assessment of dispersal routes of viruses.
Elisa de Souza Petersen, Jansen de Araujo, Lucas Krüger, Marina M. Seixas, Tatiana Ometto, Luciano M. Thomazelli, David Walker, Edison Luiz Durigon, Maria Virginia Petry, “First detection of avian influenza virus (H4N7) in Giant Petrel monitored by geolocators in the Antarctic region” , Mar Biol (2017) 164: 62. doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3086-0