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Volume 30, Number 1—January 2024
Research

Effect of 2020–21 and 2021–22 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 Epidemics on Wild Birds, the Netherlands

Valentina CaliendoComments to Author , Erik Kleyheeg, Nancy Beerens, Kees C.J. Camphuysen, Rommert Cazemier, Armin R.W. Elbers, Ron A.M. Fouchier, Leon Kelder, Thijs Kuiken, Mardik Leopold, Roy Slaterus, Marcel A.H. Spierenburg, Henk van der Jeugd, Hans Verdaat, and Jolianne M. Rijks
Author affiliations: Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands (V. Caliendo, J.M. Rijks); Sovon, Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (E. Kleyheeg, R. Slaterus); Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands (N. Beerens); Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, the Netherlands (K.C.J. Camphuysen); Wetterskip Fryslan, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands (R. Cazemier); Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad (A.R.W. Elbers); Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (R.A.M. Fouchier, T. Kuiken); Staatsbosbeheer, Amersfoort, the Netherlands (L. Kelder); Wageningen Marine Research, Den Helder, the Netherlands (M. Leopold, H. Verdaat); Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Utrecht (M.A.H. Spierenburg); Vogeltrekstation—Dutch Centre for Avian Migration and Demography NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen, the Netherlands. (H. van der Jeugd); Waarneming.nl, Stichting Observation International, Den Helder (H. Verdaat)

Main Article

Table

Reported bird species, nonbreeding population size estimates, number of carcasses, and RT-PCR test results for wild birds sampled during 2020–21 and 2021–22 HPAI epidemics, the Netherlands*

Avian group and species Maximum estimated nonbreeding population size, ×1,000 No. carcasses (mortality rate, %)†
 No. carcasses HPAI positive/no. tested
2020–21 2021–22 2020–21 2021–22
Anatidae 7,901 14,309 361/628 173/416
Geese 4,802 8,867 234/332 154/260
Barnacle goose 710–870 3,435 (1.5–4.8) 5,310 (2.4–7.4) 147/171 77/104
Graylag goose 550–670 390 (0.2–0.7) 1,054 (0.7–1.9) 30/59 53/60
Unidentified species NA 607 1,653 35/59 36/60
Swans 996 1,453 60/136 2/17
Mute swan 41–48 305 (2.5–7.4) 479 (3.9–11) 38/93 0
Unidentified species NA 629 969 19/54 2/17
Ducks 2,103 3,985 67/160 17/139
Eurasian wigeon 820–950 125 (<0–0.01) 300 (0.1–0.3) 12/13 1/9
Tufted duck
 220–280
45 (0.6–2.5)
 34 (0.01–0.1)
1/19
 0
Other waterbirds 4,068 21,895 19/162 95/245
Grebes NA 62 164 0/2 4/10
Herons NA 250 232 0/33 3/23
Cormorants NA 234 371 2/14 2/35
Waders NA 1,045 1,713 9/49 10/14
Rallids
 NA
327
 472
0/2
 1/23
Sea bird 2,371 19,340 16/102 75/140
Gulls 1,074 5,538 7/61 37/100
Great black-backed gull 25–100 137 (0.01–5.4) 372 (1.4–14.8) 1/1 1/3
Sandwich tern 27–120‡ 0 5,166 (17.2–>90)§ 0 29/33
Northern gannet
 4–27
203
 2,215 (32.8–>90)
0
 6/11
Raptors 1,011 763 42/155 83/149
Common buzzard 30–50 365 (2.9–12.1) 363 (2.9–12.1) 27/91 55/81
Peregrine falcon
 0.5–0.6
27 (18–54)
 28 (18–56)
4/5
 9/11
Other land birds 3,651 3,850 2/40 6/59
Corvids
 NA
271
 363
1/24
 4/26
Total     16,631 41,519   427/985 357/869

*Data from Sovon (Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands). HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza; NA, not available; RT-PCR, reverse transcription PCR. †Expressed as fraction of the nonbreeding population. Lower and higher values are calculated considering the 10%–25% collection rates, as described by Kleyheeg et al. (11). ‡Estimated migration maximum. §Expressed as fraction of the migrant population.

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