BACKGROUND Wild aquatic birds serve as the natural reservoir for avian influenza virus (AIV), a disease with significant implications for avian and mammalian health. Climate change is predicted to impact the dynamics of AIV, particularly in areas such as the Arctic, but the baseline data needed to detect these shifts is often unavailable. In this study, plasma from two species of gulls breeding on the high-Arctic Svalbard archipelago were screened for antibodies to AIV. RESULTS AIV antibodies were found in black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) samples from multiple years, as well as in glaucous gulls (Larus hyperboreous) samples. CONCLUSIONS Despite small sample sizes, evidence of exposure to AIV was found among Svalbard gulls. A wider survey of Svalbard avian species is warranted to establish knowledge on the extent of AIV exposure on Svalbard and to determine whether active infections are present.

中文翻译：

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在挪威高北极群岛上繁殖的海鸟中禽流感病毒的证据。

背景技术野生水禽是禽流感病毒（AIV）的天然库，禽流感病毒对禽类和哺乳动物的健康具有重要意义。预计气候变化会影响AIV的动态，尤其是在北极等地区，但是通常无法获得检测这些变化所需的基线数据。在这项研究中，筛选了在高北极斯瓦尔巴群岛上繁殖的两种海鸥的血浆中的抗AIV抗体。结果AIV抗体在多年的黑脚kittiwake（Rissa tridactyla）样品以及白质鸥（Larus hyperboreous）样品中均被发现。结论尽管样本量很小，但在斯瓦尔巴群岛的海鸥中发现了暴露于AIV的证据。