Surveillance of avian influenza through bird guano in remote regions of the global south to uncover transmission dynamics

Dhammika Leshan Wannigama (), Mohan Amarasiri, Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen, Cameron Hurst, Charin Modchang, John Jefferson V. Besa, Kazuhiko Miyanaga, Longzhu Cui, Stefan Fernandez, Angkana T. Huang, Puey Ounjai, W. K. C. P. Werawatte, Ali Hosseini Rad S. M, Porames Vatanaprasan, Dylan John Jay, Thammakorn Saethang, Sirirat Luk-in, Phitsanuruk Kanthawee, Wanwara Thuptimdang, Ratana Tacharoenmuang, Bernadina Cynthia, S. P. H. Spencer Vitharana, Natharin Ngamwongsatit, Hitoshi Ishikawa, Takashi Furukawa, Yangzhong Wang, Andrew C. Singer, Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi, Tanittha Chatsuwan, Kazunari Sei, Asuka Nanbo, Asada Leelahavanichkul, Talerngsak Kanjanabuch, Hiroshi Hamamoto, Paul G. Higgins, Daisuke Sano, Anthony Kicic, José O. Valdebenito, Jonas Bonnedahl, Sam Trowsdale, Parichart Hongsing, Aisha Khatib, Kenji Shibuya and Shuichi Abe
Additional contact information
Dhammika Leshan Wannigama: Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University
Mohan Amarasiri: Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital
Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen: Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital
Cameron Hurst: Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital
Charin Modchang: Mahidol University
John Jefferson V. Besa: Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital
Kazuhiko Miyanaga: Jichi Medical University
Longzhu Cui: Jichi Medical University
Stefan Fernandez: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences
Angkana T. Huang: University of Cambridge
Puey Ounjai: Mahidol University
W. K. C. P. Werawatte: and Teaching Hospital Kuliyapitiya
Ali Hosseini Rad S. M: Kite Pharma Inc.
Porames Vatanaprasan: Mahidol University
Dylan John Jay: Yamagata Prefectural Central Hospital
Thammakorn Saethang: Kasetsart University
Sirirat Luk-in: Mahidol University
Phitsanuruk Kanthawee: Mae Fah Luang University
Wanwara Thuptimdang: Prince of Songkla University
Ratana Tacharoenmuang: Department of Medical Sciences
Bernadina Cynthia: St. Carolus Hospital
S. P. H. Spencer Vitharana: The Lygodium Ceylon Health and Environmental Policy Research Center
Natharin Ngamwongsatit: Mahidol University
Hitoshi Ishikawa: Kamiyanagi
Takashi Furukawa: Sagamihara-Minami
Yangzhong Wang: Affiliated Fuling hospital of Chongqing University
Andrew C. Singer: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi: The University of Sheffield
Tanittha Chatsuwan: Thai Red Cross Society
Kazunari Sei: Sagamihara-Minami
Asuka Nanbo: Nagasaki University
Asada Leelahavanichkul: Thai Red Cross Society
Talerngsak Kanjanabuch: Chulalongkorn University
Hiroshi Hamamoto: Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University
Paul G. Higgins: University of Cologne
Daisuke Sano: Tohoku University
Anthony Kicic: University of Western Australia
José O. Valdebenito: Universidad de Concepción
Jonas Bonnedahl: Linköping University
Sam Trowsdale: University of Auckland
Parichart Hongsing: Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University
Aisha Khatib: University of Toronto
Kenji Shibuya: Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research
Shuichi Abe: Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) pose a growing global health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited surveillance capacity and under-resourced healthcare systems hinder timely detection and response. Migratory birds play a significant role in the transboundary spread of AIVs, yet data from key regions along migratory flyways remain sparse. To address these surveillance gaps, we conducted a study between December 2021 and February 2023 using fresh bird guano collected across 10 countries in the Global South. Here, we show that remote, uninhabited regions in previously unsampled areas harbor a high diversity of AIV strains, with H5N1 emerging as the most prevalent. Some of these H5N1 samples also carry mutations that may make them less responsive to the antiviral drug oseltamivir. Our findings documented the presence of AIVs in several underrepresented regions and highlighted critical transmission hotspots where viral evolution may be accelerating. These results underscore the urgent need for geographically targeted surveillance to detect emerging variants, inform public health interventions, and reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59322-z

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