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. 2022 Dec;11(1):757-760.
doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2043729.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (A/H5N1) virus outbreaks in Lesotho, May 2021

Mabusetsa R J Makalo  1 , William G Dundon  2 , Tirumala B K Settypalli  2 , Sneha Datta  2 , Charles E Lamien  2 , Giovanni Cattoli  2 , Moeketsi S Phalatsi  3 , Relebohile J Lepheana  1 , Mpaliseng Matlali  1 , Relebohile G Mahloane  1 , Marosi Molomo  1 , Palesa C Mphaka  1
Affiliations

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (A/H5N1) virus outbreaks in Lesotho, May 2021

Mabusetsa R J Makalo et al. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

In May 2021, Lesotho reported its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the OIE. Samples were collected from infected poultry and the virus was confirmed by molecular tests to be of the H5N1 subtype. Full genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the viruses belonged to clade 2.3.4.4b and showed high identity with A/H5N1 viruses identified in Nigeria and Senegal in early 2021. The identification of A/H5N1 HPAI in Lesotho has important implications for disease management and food security in the region.

Keywords: A/H5N1; Highly pathogenic avian influenza; Lesotho; full genome; phylogenetic analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
ML phylogenetic tree employing the Tamura-Nei model of nucleotide substitution with gamma distributed [with invariant sites (G + I)] rates among sites and 1000 bootstrap replications of the complete HA gene sequence (1704 bp) gene sequence from H5N1 HPAIVs collected in Mongolia combined with related sequences available in GenBank. The sequences from this study are shown by filled black circles. Different subclades of clade 2.3.4.4 are shown. Clade 2.3.2 and 2.3.4 are also indicated.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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