Filling Knowledge Gaps: Understanding the Impact of Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Viruses and Their Role in Novel Virus Emergence

Dear Colleagues,

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are high-consequence pathogens causing globally significant sectorial losses within the poultry industry. AIVs are capable of infection and transmission, irrespective of whether morbidity or mortality is observed, with outcomes of infection likely being linked to host (species susceptibility, age etc.) and viral (virulence factors, infectivity etc.) factors. These viruses circulate freely within wild bird reservoirs, mixing genetic material during coinfection events to drive the emergence of novel reassortants.

Avian influenza virus infection of poultry is categorised as being either high pathogenicity (HP), resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates, or low pathogenicity (LP) where disease outcomes can be minimal. The emergence of influenza A viruses can result from two key activities: genetic drift, whereby mutations can lead to altered species tropism or virulence; and genetic shift whereby coinfection can result in viruses exchanging genetic material to drive the emergence of viruses with dramatically altered genotypes and/or a phenotypes. As such, whilst the majority of information on AIVs in the literature details outbreaks of significant disease events involving HPAIV, the circulation and genetic relevance of LPAIVs is also significant. Importantly, LPAIVs often spread silently, causing either very mild clinical disease or being entirely asymptomatic. As such, they are generally only detected where clinical impact involves measurable parameters such as egg drop or comorbidities. However, silent circulation of LPAIVs may contribute to the emergence of viruses with increased virulence, or, where epizootics of HPAIV occur, may drive the emergence of multiple genotypes of HPAIV with donor genes from LPAIVs, potentially impacting on the clinical outcome. Significant knowledge gaps regarding the circulation and genetic characterisation of these LPAIVs exist. This Special Issue seeks to fill that void by calling for individual case studies where LPAIV infection has impacted upon avian populations, including both the detection and characterisation of LPAIVs and the potential for emergence of HPAIVs from LPAIV progenitors.

Dr. Ashley C. Banyard
Dr. Joe James
Guest Editors

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