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Eco-Virological Approach for Assessing the Role of Wild Birds in the Spread of Avian Influenza H5N1 along the Central Asian Flyway

 

A unique pattern of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks has emerged along the Central Asia Flyway, where infection of wild birds has been reported with steady frequency since 2005. We assessed the potential for two hosts of HPAI H5N1, the bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) and ruddy shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), to act as agents for virus dispersal along this ‘thoroughfare’. We used an eco-virological approach to compare the migration of 141 birds marked with GPS satellite transmitters during 2005–2010 with: 1) the spatio-temporal patterns of poultry and wild bird outbreaks of HPAI H5N1, and 2) the trajectory of the virus in the outbreak region based on phylogeographic mapping. We found that biweekly utilization distributions (UDs) for 19.2% of bar-headed geese and 46.2% of ruddy shelduck were significantly associated with outbreaks. Ruddy shelduck showed highest correlation with poultry outbreaks owing to their wintering distribution in South Asia, where there is considerable opportunity for HPAI H5N1 spillover from poultry. Both species showed correlation with wild bird outbreaks during the spring migration, suggesting they may be involved in the northward movement of the virus. However, phylogeographic mapping of HPAI H5N1 clades 2.2 and 2.3 did not support dissemination of the virus in a northern direction along the migration corridor. In particular, two subclades (2.2.1 and 2.3.2) moved in a strictly southern direction in contrast to our spatio-temporal analysis of bird migration. Our attempt to reconcile the disciplines of wild bird ecology and HPAI H5N1 virology highlights prospects offered by both approaches as well as their limitations.

Citation: Newman SH, et al. (2012) Eco-Virological Approach for Assessing the Role of Wild Birds in the Spread of Avian Influenza H5N1 along the Central Asian Flyway. PLoS ONE 7(2): e30636. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030636

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Wetlands International in the Mediterranean

Here we highlight our approaches to working in the Mediterranean, our successes in the region and our ambitions for the future. 

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Wetlands International Annual Plan and Budget 2012

This plan sets out Wetlands International’s priorities for the coming year and translates the Strategic Intent into concrete activities and linked results we aim to achieve by the end of the year.

 
 


 

 

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Letter to European governments on carbon dense fuels

Wetlands International signed the letter of a coalition of European  NGOs to the governments and Commission on banning carbon dense fuels. The NGOs ask to take all emissions in the product life cycle into account. This would imply a ban on fuels like biodiesel from palm oil and oils sands.

 

 

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IWC Annual National Totals (African-Eurasian Region 2009-2011)

 Overview of IWC in the African-Eurasian region 2011 and annual national totals (2009-2011) 

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LULUCF the ‘No Loopholes’ Environmental Integrity Package for Ministers

At the COP17 Climate summit in Durban, Ministers decide whether or not it will be possible for developed countries to reduce their emissions by rewetting drained peatlands for meeting their emission reduction targets under a future climate agreement. Wetlands International, together with other non-profit organisations under the Ecosystems Climate Alliance, call for mandatory accounting for wetlands, because this would mean that a strong incentive will be created to stop the loss of wetlands.

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Peatlands: hotspots for emissions reductions

Peatlands play a critical role in climate regulation, storing twice as much carbon as the entire world’s forest biomass and emitting large amounts of carbon when drained. The UNFCCC provides significant opportunities to safeguard and restore these concentrated and important reservoirs of terrestrial carbon.

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Letter to EU president Barosso on Biofuels and Land Use Change

 22 September 2011. Wetlands International together with several environmental NGOs have written to the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, demanding action on five scientific studies that question the clean energy benefits of biofuels.

 

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Peatlands in Indonesia National REDD+ Strategy

The draft National REDD+ Strategy of Indonesia demonstrates that Indonesia has major ambitions to tackle its significant emissions from peatlands and conserve these unique ecosystems. This ambition is greatly welcomed and urgently needed. Some critical issues in the report, however, need to be addressed if Indonesia is to achieve its targets effectively and in a way that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

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Pages: 1 of 66

All CKPP materials

Current publications | Search

Eco-Virological Approach for Assessing the Role of Wild Birds in the Spread of Avian Influenza H5N1 along the Central Asian Flyway

 

A unique pattern of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks has emerged along the Central Asia Flyway, where infection of wild birds has been reported with steady frequency since 2005. We assessed the potential for two hosts of HPAI H5N1, the bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) and ruddy shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), to act as agents for virus dispersal along this ‘thoroughfare’. We used an eco-virological approach to compare the migration of 141 birds marked with GPS satellite transmitters during 2005–2010 with: 1) the spatio-temporal patterns of poultry and wild bird outbreaks of HPAI H5N1, and 2) the trajectory of the virus in the outbreak region based on phylogeographic mapping. We found that biweekly utilization distributions (UDs) for 19.2% of bar-headed geese and 46.2% of ruddy shelduck were significantly associated with outbreaks. Ruddy shelduck showed highest correlation with poultry outbreaks owing to their wintering distribution in South Asia, where there is considerable opportunity for HPAI H5N1 spillover from poultry. Both species showed correlation with wild bird outbreaks during the spring migration, suggesting they may be involved in the northward movement of the virus. However, phylogeographic mapping of HPAI H5N1 clades 2.2 and 2.3 did not support dissemination of the virus in a northern direction along the migration corridor. In particular, two subclades (2.2.1 and 2.3.2) moved in a strictly southern direction in contrast to our spatio-temporal analysis of bird migration. Our attempt to reconcile the disciplines of wild bird ecology and HPAI H5N1 virology highlights prospects offered by both approaches as well as their limitations.

Citation: Newman SH, et al. (2012) Eco-Virological Approach for Assessing the Role of Wild Birds in the Spread of Avian Influenza H5N1 along the Central Asian Flyway. PLoS ONE 7(2): e30636. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030636

 Read more ...

Wetlands International in the Mediterranean

Here we highlight our approaches to working in the Mediterranean, our successes in the region and our ambitions for the future. 

 Read more ...

Wetlands International Annual Plan and Budget 2012

This plan sets out Wetlands International’s priorities for the coming year and translates the Strategic Intent into concrete activities and linked results we aim to achieve by the end of the year.

 
 


 

 

 Read more ...

Letter to European governments on carbon dense fuels

Wetlands International signed the letter of a coalition of European  NGOs to the governments and Commission on banning carbon dense fuels. The NGOs ask to take all emissions in the product life cycle into account. This would imply a ban on fuels like biodiesel from palm oil and oils sands.

 

 

 Read more ...
Pages: 1 of 131

Q&A factbook on peatland degradation in South-east Asia

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