USA: H5N1 HPAI in a herd of goats
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH) has reported the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a young goat residing on a farm recently afflicted by an outbreak in poultry. Authorities, including the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), are currently probing the transmission of the virus within the farm premises situated in Stevens County, located in west-central Minnesota. As a precautionary measure, all animals on the farm have been subjected to quarantine. This discovery underscores the potential for cross-species infection within farms housing multiple animal types.
The investigation was prompted by the observation of unusual mortality among newborn goats subsequent to the culling of poultry as part of the response to the February outbreak. Both the goats and the poultry shared common living quarters and water sources. The goats, which commenced kidding shortly after the depopulation of poultry including chickens and ducks, experienced the demise of ten kids aged between 5 and 9 days old. Examination of brain and tissue samples from five goat kids confirmed the presence of H5N1, specifically belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b.Furthermore, genomic sequencing analysis demonstrated a close genetic relationship between samples obtained from the initial goat case and those from the affected poultry on the farm.
