Marcel Klaassen

The paper investigates the ecology of low pathogenicity H7 avian influenza virus in wild birds in southeast Australia before the emergence of high pathogenicity H7 in poultry, finding weak evidence of prior changes in prevalence and diversity but strong support for a rainfall pattern association with outbreak probability.

The study conducted migratory bird and marine mammal surveillance in 2025 and found no evidence of HPAI H5N1 2.3.4.4b in Australia, though low pathogenicity avian influenza was detected.

The study surveils migratory shorebirds and seabirds in Australia in 2024, finding no HPAI H5N1 but detecting diverse LPAI viruses, including mosaic H3N7 and H4N7 from Red-necked Stints and a Eurasian H1N7.

The paper reports the continued absence of HPAI H5N1 lineage 2.3.4.4b and antibodies against it in migratory birds in Australia during October-December 2023.

The paper compares two avian influenza virus incursions in Australia, showing contrasting evolutionary dynamics between H4 and H10 viruses.

The paper identifies a novel HDV-like agent in ducks, showing genetic divergence but structural and functional similarities to HDV, challenging current understanding of HDV origins.