Pathological investigation of high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N8 in captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata), the United Arab Emirates 2020.

At the end of 2020, an outbreak of HPAI H5N8 was registered in captive African houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata) in the United Arab Emirates. In order to better understand the pathobiology of this viral infection in bustards, a comprehensive pathological characterization was performed. A total of six birds were selected for necropsy, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, RNAscope in situ hybridization and RT-qPCR and nanopore sequencing on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks.

Exposure to and Circulation of Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Viruses in Peridomestic Wild Birds in the United Arab Emirates.

Avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses (AIV, NDV) are major pathogens of captive and wild birds worldwide. Wetlands and their associated bird communities, especially waterfowl and shorebirds, are known to play a central role in the epidemiology of these diseases as maintenance hosts. However, these viruses also circulate in places where these ecosystems and communities are uncommon, suggesting the involvement of other taxa in their epidemiological cycles.