Location: Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research
Project Number: 6040-32000-072-009-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Sep 25, 2015
End Date: Jun 29, 2019
Objective:
The objective is to conduct active surveillance in chickens and passive surveillance in chickens, pigeons and wild species of birds to determine viral distribution, and identification of ecological correlates in Kenya. A second objective is to develop a training program on genomic characterization, sequencing, and bioinformatics at Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory for Kenyan scientists.
Approach:
A collaborative research program between ARS, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), the Department of Veterinary Services, the Kenyan Wildlife Services, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the University of Colorado, will be established to better understand the epidemiology and control of Newcastle disease in Kenya. Backyard poultry, wild birds, live bird markets, and commercial layers and broilers from various environments representing the production systems in Kenya will be sampled during and between clinical outbreaks in a longitudinal study to identify circulating strains of Newcastle disease virus. Samples will be initially characterized at SEPRL by KARI scientists (because Kenya does not have BSL3 facilities). Testing will involve real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Strains obtained from acute and persistent or subclinical infections will be genetically characterized by conventional sequencing in a collaborative manner between ARS-SEPRL, and Kenyan partners. KARI scientists will travel to ILRI to transfer the technology on development of real time PCR tests and sequencing.
