Opportunity Drives Spillover: Serological Surveillance across Carnivores, Omnivores and Herbivores in an HPAIV H5 Hotspot in North-East Germany, 2023-2025

Günther, A.; Wassermann, J.; Heck, J.; Bussi, M.; Aebischer, A.; Staubach, C.; Bergmann, H.; Leendertz, F. H.; Beer, M.; Schares, G.; Wernike, K.

doi:10.1101/2025.09.30.678011

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.09.30.678011

Opportunity Drives Spillover: Serological Surveillance across Carnivores, Omnivores and Herbivores in an HPAIV H5 Hotspot in North-East Germany, 2023-2025

Günther, A.·Wassermann, J.·Heck, J.·Bussi, M.·Aebischer, A.·Staubach, C.·Bergmann, H.·Leendertz, F. H.·Beer, M.·Schares, G.·Wernike, K.

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Abstract

In North-East Germanys offshore islands and mainland coast, wild ruminants, boar, and carnivores were tested for H5-HPAI antibodies. Wild ruminants were seronegative; 3.5% of boar and 12.5-21.9% of carnivores were seropositive, evidencing frequent spillover. Because such events may accelerate mammalian--and ultimately human--adaptation, sustained One- Health monitoring is essential. SummaryAcross offshore islands and the mainland coast of North-East Germany, H5 HPAI serosurveillance in wildlife found no seroconversion in ruminants, but positives in 3.5% of boar and 12.5-21.9% of carnivores, indicating ongoing spillover and risk of avian-to- mammalian adaptation.

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Günther, A., Wassermann, J., Heck, J., Bussi, M., Aebischer, A., Staubach, C., Bergmann, H., Leendertz, F. H., Beer, M., Schares, G., Wernike, K.. 2025-10-01. Opportunity Drives Spillover: Serological Surveillance across Carnivores, Omnivores and Herbivores in an HPAIV H5 Hotspot in North-East Germany, 2023-2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.30.678011

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