Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
1 file | 19.69 MB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. Susceptibility of mammals to highly p...

Susceptibility of mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza : a qualitative risk assessment from the Belgian perspective

Virginie Van Leeuw, Pieter Depoorter, Axel Mauroy, Olivier Beck, Herman Claeys, Nick De Regge, Valerie De Waele, Paul De Winter, Jean-Francois Heymans, Jozef Hooyberghs, et al.
(2025) ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 72(2). p.150-165
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
AimsThe world experienced a huge number of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds, which could represent one of the largest registered epidemics of infectious disease in food-producing animals. Therefore, mammals, including humans, are continuously exposed to HPAI viruses leading to sporadic and sometimes unusual mammal infections. The aim of this paper is to assess the risk of crossing the avian/mammalian species barrier by the currently circulating HPAI viruses, focusing on the epidemiological situation of Belgium, a representative country for Western Europe.Methods and ResultsInformation on transmission pathways and species susceptibility, based on the experimental and epidemiological data, was reviewed and weighted to assess the risk of mammal infection with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses of the circulating clade 2.3.4.4b. This risk is defined as the likelihood of mammal infection by birds crossed by the clinical consequences of this infection for this animal. From the Belgian perspective, it is concluded that this risk remains 'low' to 'moderate' for captive/domestic mammal species. However, this risk was categorised as 'high' for certain species, i.e. mammals that have the opportunity to have frequent direct or indirect close contacts with infected (dead) birds, such as wild felids, wild mustelids, foxes and wild marine carnivore mammals. For some mammal species, the uncertainty associated with the assessment remains high due to an ever-changing situation.ConclusionsThe longer the virus will continue to circulate in wildlife/the environment the stronger the probability of contact between infected birds and mammals will become. This will increase the related risk of viral adaptation for efficient transmission between mammal, posing concerns for public health. Regular reassessments based on the field and experimental data are therefore necessary to implement and adapt risk-based mitigation measures. This will require continuous monitoring of avian influenza viruses in both birds and mammals as well as sharing of sequence data.
Keywords
epidemiology, influenza A virus, mammals, public health, risk assessment, transmission, VIRUS H5N1 INFECTION, A(H5N1), RECEPTORS, DISEASE, FERRETS, TRANSMISSION, OUTBREAK, EXPOSURE, SPREAD, SEALS

Downloads

  • Download
    (...).pdf
    • full text (Published version)
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 19.69 MB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Van Leeuw, Virginie, et al. “Susceptibility of Mammals to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza : A Qualitative Risk Assessment from the Belgian Perspective.” ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH, vol. 72, no. 2, 2025, pp. 150–65, doi:10.1111/zph.13194.
APA
Van Leeuw, V., Depoorter, P., Mauroy, A., Beck, O., Claeys, H., De Regge, N., … Dewulf, J. (2025). Susceptibility of mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza : a qualitative risk assessment from the Belgian perspective. ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 72(2), 150–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13194
Chicago author-date
Van Leeuw, Virginie, Pieter Depoorter, Axel Mauroy, Olivier Beck, Herman Claeys, Nick De Regge, Valerie De Waele, et al. 2025. “Susceptibility of Mammals to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza : A Qualitative Risk Assessment from the Belgian Perspective.” ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH 72 (2): 150–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13194.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Van Leeuw, Virginie, Pieter Depoorter, Axel Mauroy, Olivier Beck, Herman Claeys, Nick De Regge, Valerie De Waele, Paul De Winter, Jean-Francois Heymans, Jozef Hooyberghs, Philippe Houdart, Cyrelle Houtsaeger, Annick Linden, Marcella Mori, Hans Nauwynck, Anna Parys, Javiera Rebolledo Romero, Chantal Rettigner, Lieze Rouffaer, Jorgen Stassijns, Mieke Steensels, Steven Van Gucht, Kristien Van Reeth, Katie Vermeersch, Muriel Vervaeke, Claude Saegerman, and Jeroen Dewulf. 2025. “Susceptibility of Mammals to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza : A Qualitative Risk Assessment from the Belgian Perspective.” ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH 72 (2): 150–165. doi:10.1111/zph.13194.
Vancouver
1.
Van Leeuw V, Depoorter P, Mauroy A, Beck O, Claeys H, De Regge N, et al. Susceptibility of mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza : a qualitative risk assessment from the Belgian perspective. ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH. 2025;72(2):150–65.
IEEE
[1]
V. Van Leeuw et al., “Susceptibility of mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza : a qualitative risk assessment from the Belgian perspective,” ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 150–165, 2025.
@article{01JQR8KT8QSHS0TPT4XBYX0EK8,
  abstract     = {{AimsThe world experienced a huge number of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds, which could represent one of the largest registered epidemics of infectious disease in food-producing animals. Therefore, mammals, including humans, are continuously exposed to HPAI viruses leading to sporadic and sometimes unusual mammal infections. The aim of this paper is to assess the risk of crossing the avian/mammalian species barrier by the currently circulating HPAI viruses, focusing on the epidemiological situation of Belgium, a representative country for Western Europe.Methods and ResultsInformation on transmission pathways and species susceptibility, based on the experimental and epidemiological data, was reviewed and weighted to assess the risk of mammal infection with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses of the circulating clade 2.3.4.4b. This risk is defined as the likelihood of mammal infection by birds crossed by the clinical consequences of this infection for this animal. From the Belgian perspective, it is concluded that this risk remains 'low' to 'moderate' for captive/domestic mammal species. However, this risk was categorised as 'high' for certain species, i.e. mammals that have the opportunity to have frequent direct or indirect close contacts with infected (dead) birds, such as wild felids, wild mustelids, foxes and wild marine carnivore mammals. For some mammal species, the uncertainty associated with the assessment remains high due to an ever-changing situation.ConclusionsThe longer the virus will continue to circulate in wildlife/the environment the stronger the probability of contact between infected birds and mammals will become. This will increase the related risk of viral adaptation for efficient transmission between mammal, posing concerns for public health. Regular reassessments based on the field and experimental data are therefore necessary to implement and adapt risk-based mitigation measures. This will require continuous monitoring of avian influenza viruses in both birds and mammals as well as sharing of sequence data.}},
  author       = {{Van Leeuw, Virginie and Depoorter, Pieter and Mauroy, Axel and Beck, Olivier and Claeys, Herman and De Regge, Nick and De Waele, Valerie and De Winter, Paul and Heymans, Jean-Francois and Hooyberghs, Jozef and Houdart, Philippe and Houtsaeger, Cyrelle and Linden, Annick and Mori, Marcella and Nauwynck, Hans and Parys, Anna and Romero, Javiera Rebolledo and Rettigner, Chantal and Rouffaer, Lieze and Stassijns, Jorgen and Steensels, Mieke and Van Gucht, Steven and Van Reeth, Kristien and Vermeersch, Katie and Vervaeke, Muriel and Saegerman, Claude and Dewulf, Jeroen}},
  issn         = {{1863-1959}},
  journal      = {{ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH}},
  keywords     = {{epidemiology,influenza A virus,mammals,public health,risk assessment,transmission,VIRUS H5N1 INFECTION,A(H5N1),RECEPTORS,DISEASE,FERRETS,TRANSMISSION,OUTBREAK,EXPOSURE,SPREAD,SEALS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{150--165}},
  title        = {{Susceptibility of mammals to highly pathogenic avian influenza : a qualitative risk assessment from the Belgian perspective}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13194}},
  volume       = {{72}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}
Altmetric
View in Altmetric
Web of Science
Times cited: