Novel HPAIV H5N8 Reassortant (Clade 2.3.4.4b) Detected in Germany

• Main Authors: Jacqueline King, Christoph Schulze, Andreas Engelhardt, Andreas Hlinak, Sara-Lisa Lennermann, Kerstin Rigbers, Jasmin Skuballa, Christoph Staubach, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Timm Harder, Martin Beer, Anne Pohlmann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: avian influenza viruses; hpaiv; reassortment; h5n8; third-generation sequencing; minion
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/3/281

A novel H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was detected in a greater white-fronted goose in January 2020 in Brandenburg, Germany, and, in February 2020, in domestic chickens belonging to a smallholding in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. Full-genome sequencing was conducted on the MinION platform, enabling further phylogenetic analyses. The virus of clade 2.3.4.4b holds six segments from a Eurasian/Asian/African HPAIV H5N8 reassortant and two segments from low pathogenic avian influenza H3N8 subtype viruses recently detected in wild birds in Central Russia. These new entries continue to show the reassortment potential of the clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx viruses, underlining the necessity for full-genome sequencing and continuous surveillance.