Michelle Wille
@duckswabber.bsky.social
Avian influenza & avian virome ecology | "Expert in Ducks" | (she/her) | michellewille.com
Unsurprisingly, the suspected cases of HPAI H5N1 in elephant seals on Australia's subAntarctic island (Heard Island) have been confirmed.
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Unsurprisingly, the suspected cases of HPAI H5N1 in elephant seals on Australia's subAntarctic island (Heard Island) have been confirmed.
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
👉 minister.agriculture.gov.au/collins/medi...
Japan, 2022-23, largest HPAI outbreak ever: 84 poultry farms, culled 17 million birds. Lots of laying hens per farm (≥100,000 birds) a risk factor. Changing shoes at entrance + back door= potential protective factors
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/...
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/...
November 18, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Japan, 2022-23, largest HPAI outbreak ever: 84 poultry farms, culled 17 million birds. Lots of laying hens per farm (≥100,000 birds) a risk factor. Changing shoes at entrance + back door= potential protective factors
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/...
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/...
Substantial overview of HPAI H5 cases in humans, 1997-2005. Huge effort in data curation and cleaning, bring together a really clear and comprehensive story.
👉 academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
👉 academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
November 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Substantial overview of HPAI H5 cases in humans, 1997-2005. Huge effort in data curation and cleaning, bring together a really clear and comprehensive story.
👉 academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
👉 academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-...
What is the threat of HPAI to human health? Overview of cases, diagnostics, treatment, preparedness, countermeasures.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 18, 2025 at 11:25 PM
What is the threat of HPAI to human health? Overview of cases, diagnostics, treatment, preparedness, countermeasures.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Key ecological drivers of HPAI in Asia: sustained circulation in live bird markets, subclinical infection in domestic ducks, wild birds as reservoirs, multiple species w dual receptors that can act as mixing vessels enabling reassortment
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Key ecological drivers of HPAI in Asia: sustained circulation in live bird markets, subclinical infection in domestic ducks, wild birds as reservoirs, multiple species w dual receptors that can act as mixing vessels enabling reassortment
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Latest from OFFLU: Guidelines for HPAI virus risk mitigation in cattle.
👉 offlu.org/publications...
👉 offlu.org/publications...
November 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Latest from OFFLU: Guidelines for HPAI virus risk mitigation in cattle.
👉 offlu.org/publications...
👉 offlu.org/publications...
10 H10 viruses from Italy, 1994-2007. Several molecular markers, associated with increased zoonotic potential. Diversity of H10 in sympatric waterbird species.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
November 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
10 H10 viruses from Italy, 1994-2007. Several molecular markers, associated with increased zoonotic potential. Diversity of H10 in sympatric waterbird species.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
H9 is endemic in poultry in Asia. In Guangxi, G57 predominant lineage. H9N2 Genotypes in swine, equines, canines similar to those in avian species at the same time. Likely antigenic drift from vaccines.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
November 18, 2025 at 11:06 PM
H9 is endemic in poultry in Asia. In Guangxi, G57 predominant lineage. H9N2 Genotypes in swine, equines, canines similar to those in avian species at the same time. Likely antigenic drift from vaccines.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13...
Modelling to try to understand how wild birds could bring H7 into Russia, and estimating outbreak risk in poultry farms.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14...
November 18, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Modelling to try to understand how wild birds could bring H7 into Russia, and estimating outbreak risk in poultry farms.
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14...
H10N3 and H10N5 in China differ from other H10s by their dual α2,3/α2,6 receptor-binding capacity. 2 viruses described cause severe infection in mice. HA K165E substitution identified
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
H10N3 and H10N5 in China differ from other H10s by their dual α2,3/α2,6 receptor-binding capacity. 2 viruses described cause severe infection in mice. HA K165E substitution identified
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Serology studies really useful in understand the degree to which HPAI has spread in populations. Here, low H5 seroprevalence in Scaups before arrival of HPAI, but increased seroprevalence afterwards (e.g. in juv, from 30% > 80%).
👉 cdnsciencepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
👉 cdnsciencepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
November 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Serology studies really useful in understand the degree to which HPAI has spread in populations. Here, low H5 seroprevalence in Scaups before arrival of HPAI, but increased seroprevalence afterwards (e.g. in juv, from 30% > 80%).
👉 cdnsciencepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
👉 cdnsciencepub.com/doi/epdf/10....
Impact of HPAI in China: 1% increase in outbreaks = 🔺costs by 0.37%, and 🔻 annual production by 0.038%. Seems inconsequential, however in 2023 alone China raised >5 billion chickens...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15...
👉 www.statista.com/statistics/2...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15...
👉 www.statista.com/statistics/2...
November 18, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Impact of HPAI in China: 1% increase in outbreaks = 🔺costs by 0.37%, and 🔻 annual production by 0.038%. Seems inconsequential, however in 2023 alone China raised >5 billion chickens...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15...
👉 www.statista.com/statistics/2...
👉 www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15...
👉 www.statista.com/statistics/2...
Reposted by Michelle Wille
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
H5 has been found in vampire bats in Peru, particularly those that feed on coastal wildlife species. This isn't just detection of H5 from prey blood in their stomach/mouth, but bona fide infection as shown by immunohistochemistry. Impact on bats?
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 AM
H5 has been found in vampire bats in Peru, particularly those that feed on coastal wildlife species. This isn't just detection of H5 from prey blood in their stomach/mouth, but bona fide infection as shown by immunohistochemistry. Impact on bats?
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Sobering article - A 47% decline in the number of breeding female Southern Elephant Seals were recorded at the three largest breeding colony beaches on South Georgian in 2024 compared to 2022, following mass mortality events caused by HPAI
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s42...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s42...
November 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Sobering article - A 47% decline in the number of breeding female Southern Elephant Seals were recorded at the three largest breeding colony beaches on South Georgian in 2024 compared to 2022, following mass mortality events caused by HPAI
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s42...
👉 www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Reposted by Michelle Wille
We captured 18 birds today and then we surveyed the colony for bird flu, which we thankfully saw no evidence of.
Cape Crozier remains magical!
🌍🧪🦑🦉
Cape Crozier remains magical!
🌍🧪🦑🦉
November 11, 2025 at 4:52 AM
We captured 18 birds today and then we surveyed the colony for bird flu, which we thankfully saw no evidence of.
Cape Crozier remains magical!
🌍🧪🦑🦉
Cape Crozier remains magical!
🌍🧪🦑🦉
Review of literature tidentified 10 reports of 18 cases of asymptomatic infection of humans with H5N1, including 2 cases with molecular and serologic confirmation and 16 cases with molecular confirmation alone. prospective surveillance studies required.
👉 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
👉 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Review of literature tidentified 10 reports of 18 cases of asymptomatic infection of humans with H5N1, including 2 cases with molecular and serologic confirmation and 16 cases with molecular confirmation alone. prospective surveillance studies required.
👉 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
👉 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Metaanalysis of IAV in dogs and cats: 12.04 % in dogs and 1.73 % in cats. Seroprevalence was 12.07 % in dogs and 7.39 % in cats. Higher prevalence in the Americas and Asia compared to Europe. No info on subtype?
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Metaanalysis of IAV in dogs and cats: 12.04 % in dogs and 1.73 % in cats. Seroprevalence was 12.07 % in dogs and 7.39 % in cats. Higher prevalence in the Americas and Asia compared to Europe. No info on subtype?
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
RIG-i loss in chickens explains susceptibility to HPAI. Re-instate it - and chickens exhibited shifts in T and B cells. But, still severe disease when infected with H7N1. Loss of RIG-i to counteract deleterious inflammation caused by viral infection?
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
November 11, 2025 at 6:39 AM
RIG-i loss in chickens explains susceptibility to HPAI. Re-instate it - and chickens exhibited shifts in T and B cells. But, still severe disease when infected with H7N1. Loss of RIG-i to counteract deleterious inflammation caused by viral infection?
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...
Integrated modelling framework to simulate climate + land-use change on the spatial suitability for AIV in Bangladesh.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Integrated modelling framework to simulate climate + land-use change on the spatial suitability for AIV in Bangladesh.
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Transcriptome sequencing of chicken DF-1 cells revealed that 2118 long coding RNAs differentially expressed following H9N2 infection. Newly identified "lncRNA-up4 " regulates of cytokine production + antiviral gene expression in DF-1
👉 veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
👉 veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Transcriptome sequencing of chicken DF-1 cells revealed that 2118 long coding RNAs differentially expressed following H9N2 infection. Newly identified "lncRNA-up4 " regulates of cytokine production + antiviral gene expression in DF-1
👉 veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
👉 veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Metabolomic analysis of lung and serum samples from H5N1 infected SPF chickens: 31 and 13 altered metabolites were identified in the lung, and 22 and 15 in the serum. Sphingosine, psychosine sulfate, and L-serine identified.
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/cel...
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/cel...
November 11, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Metabolomic analysis of lung and serum samples from H5N1 infected SPF chickens: 31 and 13 altered metabolites were identified in the lung, and 22 and 15 in the serum. Sphingosine, psychosine sulfate, and L-serine identified.
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/cel...
👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/cel...
Development of qPCR to subtype H5 in human nasal, nasopharyngeal, and conjunctival specimens with a limit of detection of 250 copies/mL. No detection of H5 in retrospective samples.
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
November 11, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Development of qPCR to subtype H5 in human nasal, nasopharyngeal, and conjunctival specimens with a limit of detection of 250 copies/mL. No detection of H5 in retrospective samples.
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
👉 journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
breeding success of Northern Gannets with black eyes (an indicator of past exposure to HPAIV) was similar to those with normal blue eyes in the year following a severe disease outbreak. Overall breeding sucess lower 1 year after mass mortality.
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
November 11, 2025 at 6:20 AM
breeding success of Northern Gannets with black eyes (an indicator of past exposure to HPAIV) was similar to those with normal blue eyes in the year following a severe disease outbreak. Overall breeding sucess lower 1 year after mass mortality.
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...