Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epizootics have caused repeated mass mortality events among wild birds. The effect of the infection is potentially detrimental for a variety of bird species, including the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>). The numbers of wintering and br...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Valentina Caliendo Beatriz Bellido Martin Ron A. M. Fouchier Hans Verdaat Marc Engelsma Nancy Beerens Roy Slaterus |
| author_facet | Valentina Caliendo Beatriz Bellido Martin Ron A. M. Fouchier Hans Verdaat Marc Engelsma Nancy Beerens Roy Slaterus |
| author_sort | Valentina Caliendo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epizootics have caused repeated mass mortality events among wild birds. The effect of the infection is potentially detrimental for a variety of bird species, including the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>). The numbers of wintering and breeding Peregrine Falcons in the Netherlands have recently declined. We investigated the changes in population trends in relation to HPAI H5 virus outbreaks. For this purpose, we analyzed variations in annual numbers of wintering and breeding birds, the virology of reported dead birds, and the presence of the HPAI H5 virus in unhatched eggs. We showed that significant mortalities of Peregrine Falcons had occurred in 2016–2017 and 2020–2023, years of major HPAI H5 virus outbreaks. In particular, the highest rates of bird mortality and HPAI virus infection were reported in 2023. In this year, over 80% (28/32) of the tested birds were positive for HPAI H5 virus. No HPAI H5 virus was present in the eggs. Based on these findings, we concluded that HPAI represents a serious threat to the Peregrine Falcon population in the Netherlands, and, in combination with anthropogenic factors, may contribute to the decline of this species. Targeted HPAI surveillance and disease mitigation measures are necessary for the conservation of this species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b3fd12250e6140659ab94c5b259d27be |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-b3fd12250e6140659ab94c5b259d27be2025-01-24T13:52:17ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-12-011712410.3390/v17010024Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The NetherlandsValentina Caliendo0Beatriz Bellido Martin1Ron A. M. Fouchier2Hans Verdaat3Marc Engelsma4Nancy Beerens5Roy Slaterus6Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The NetherlandsWageningen Marine Research, 1781 AG Den Helder, The NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The NetherlandsSovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The NetherlandsHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) epizootics have caused repeated mass mortality events among wild birds. The effect of the infection is potentially detrimental for a variety of bird species, including the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>). The numbers of wintering and breeding Peregrine Falcons in the Netherlands have recently declined. We investigated the changes in population trends in relation to HPAI H5 virus outbreaks. For this purpose, we analyzed variations in annual numbers of wintering and breeding birds, the virology of reported dead birds, and the presence of the HPAI H5 virus in unhatched eggs. We showed that significant mortalities of Peregrine Falcons had occurred in 2016–2017 and 2020–2023, years of major HPAI H5 virus outbreaks. In particular, the highest rates of bird mortality and HPAI virus infection were reported in 2023. In this year, over 80% (28/32) of the tested birds were positive for HPAI H5 virus. No HPAI H5 virus was present in the eggs. Based on these findings, we concluded that HPAI represents a serious threat to the Peregrine Falcon population in the Netherlands, and, in combination with anthropogenic factors, may contribute to the decline of this species. Targeted HPAI surveillance and disease mitigation measures are necessary for the conservation of this species.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/24Peregrine Falconavian influenzaHPAI H5 virus |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Caliendo Beatriz Bellido Martin Ron A. M. Fouchier Hans Verdaat Marc Engelsma Nancy Beerens Roy Slaterus Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands Viruses Peregrine Falcon avian influenza HPAI H5 virus |
| title | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands |
| title_full | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands |
| title_fullStr | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands |
| title_short | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Contributes to the Population Decline of the Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco peregrinus</i>) in The Netherlands |
| title_sort | highly pathogenic avian influenza contributes to the population decline of the peregrine falcon i falco peregrinus i in the netherlands |
| topic | Peregrine Falcon avian influenza HPAI H5 virus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/24 |
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