Surveillance program of Minnesota Wildlife for avian influenza virus, including highly pathogenic avian influenza virus research

Between April 2025 and June 2027, we will test swabs (oropharyngeal swabs and/or cloacal/rectal swabs) from 9000 free-ranging birds and mammals originating from Minnesota via reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) specific for the matrix gene encoded by influenza A viruses. Positive samples will be forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), the national reference laboratory for highly pathogenic influenza viruses. At NVSL, the confirmation of the pathogenicity of the detected influenza virus will be determined. Upon confirmation of a HPAI virus, the UMN team will perform a) an in-house viability RT-qPCR assay and b) virus isolation. These tests will be conducted in the Biosecurity Level 3 (BSL-3) Veterinary Isolation Facility at the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is uniquely positioned to study the diversity of HPAI viruses because it has one of only few Select Agent BSL-3 labs in the nation permitted to work with HPAI viruses. In addition to culturing the HPAI viruses, detailed analysis using whole genome sequencing will allow us to determine if and how HPAI viruses are evolving in the state of Minnesota.