Author
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Swayne, David |
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Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2008 Publication Date: 3/10/2008 Citation: Swayne, D.E. 2008. Current status of avian influenza with emphasis on pathobiology, ecology, disease diagnosis and control. In: Proceedings of the 8th Scientific Conference of the Egyptian Poultry Veterinary Association, March 10-12, 2008, Cairo, Egypt. p. 23-29. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Twenty-six epizootics of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) have occurred in the world since 1959. The largest of these outbreaks has been the H5N1 HPAI which has caused problems in poultry and some wild birds in over 60 countries of Asia, Europe and Africa since beginning in 1996. The H5N1 HPAI viruses have also caused severe infections and death in a few humans, but such infections have been rarely caused by other HPAI viruses. Natural infections of wild birds with HPAI virus was first reported in common terns in South Africa during 1961 with the H5N3 subtype. With the H5N1 HPAI virus first reported in China during 1996, wild bird infections were not initially reported, but beginning in 2002, in Hong Kong, a variety of fatal infections in various wild and captive waterfowl and wading birds was reported. In early 2005, large die-offs of wild waterfowl were reported in Qinghai China, followed by wild bird mortality in Mongolia and Siberia. The outbreaks were also reported in poultry in Siberia and Kazakhstan. In winter 2006, mortality was identified in waterfowl in several European Union countries with minimal cases in poultry. The HPAI viruses cause severe systemic infection in multiple poultry species and the viruses can be present in multiple internal organs, meat, eggs and blood. The most recent viruses from Vietnam also cause high mortality in young domestic ducks. Various wild aquatic birds have been infected by H5N1 HPAI viruses and experimental studies have shown high susceptibility of swans, geese and some gull species. Diagnosis requires virus isolation or identification of specific genes or protein of influenza A virus. Vaccines provide control through prevention of clinical disease and death, and reduction in shedding and environmental contamination. |
