Risk Factors and Characteristics of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Isolated from Commercial Poultry in Tunisia

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2013 Jan 18

PMID 23326449

Citations 15

Authors

Wafa Tombari

Mathilde Paul

Jihene Bettaieb

Imen Larbi

Jihene Nsiri

Imen ElBehi

Latifa Gribaa

Abdeljelil Ghram

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Estimate the seroprevalence of influenza A virus in various commercial poultry farms and evaluate specific risk factors as well as analyze their genetic nature using molecular assays.

Materials And Methods: This report summarizes the findings of a national survey realized from October 2010 to May 2011 on 800 flocks in 20 governorates. Serum samples were screened for the presence of specific influenza virus antibodies using cELISA test. Additionally, swab samples were tested by real time and conventional RT-PCR and compared with results obtained by others assays. Phylogenetic and genetic analyses of the glycoproteins were established for some strains.

Results: Out of the 800 chicken and turkey flocks tested by cELISA, 223 showed positive anti-NP antibodies (28.7%, 95% CI: 25.6-32.1). Significantly higher seroprevalence was found among the coastal areas compared to inland and during the autumn and winter. Broiler flocks showed significantly lower seroprevalence than layers and broiler breeders. The influenza virus infection prevalence increased after the laying phase among layer flocks. In addition, AIV seropositivity was significantly associated with low biosecurity measures. The Ag EIA and rRT-PCR tests revealed significantly higher numbers of AI positive samples as compared to cell cultures or egg inoculation. All new strains were subtyped as H9N2 by real time and conventional RT-PCR. Drift mutations, addition or deletion of glycosylation sites were likely to have occurred in the HA and NA glycoproteins of Tunisian strains resulting in multiple new amino acid substitutions. This fact may reflect different evolutionary pressures affecting these glycoproteins. The role of these newly detected substitutions should be tested.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the potential risk of AIV to avian health. Strict enforcement of biosecurity measures and possible vaccination of all poultry flocks with continuous monitoring of poultry stations may ensure reduction of AIV prevalence and avoid emergence of more pathogenic strains.

Citing Articles

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza H9N2 Viruses in Morocco: Antigenic and Molecular Evolution from 2021 to 2023.

Arbani O, Ducatez M, Mahmoudi S, Salamat F, Khayi S, Mouahid M Viruses. 2023; 15(12).

PMID: 38140596 PMC: 10747644. DOI: 10.3390/v15122355.

Risk Factors Associated with Avian Influenza Subtype H9 Outbreaks in Poultry Farms of Central Lowland Nepal.

Subedi D, Phuyal P, Bhandari S, Kandel M, Shah S, Rawal G Infect Dis Rep. 2022; 14(4):525-536.

PMID: 35893475 PMC: 9326661. DOI: 10.3390/idr14040056.

Avian Influenza a H9N2 Viruses in Morocco, 2018-2019.

Sikht F, Ducatez M, Touzani C, Rubrum A, Webby R, El Houadfi M Viruses. 2022; 14(3).

PMID: 35336936 PMC: 8954086. DOI: 10.3390/v14030529.

Prevalence and risk factors of Avian Influenza Viruses among household ducks in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

Rahman M, Belgrad J, Sayeed M, Abdullah M, Barua S, Chisty N Vet Res Commun. 2022; 46(2):471-480.

PMID: 35022959 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09874-4.

A Value Chain Approach to Characterize the Chicken Sub-sector in Pakistan.

Aslam H, Alarcon P, Yaqub T, Iqbal M, Hasler B Front Vet Sci. 2020; 7:361.

PMID: 32714948 PMC: 7351015. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00361.

References

Alexander D, Brown I . Recent zoonoses caused by influenza A viruses. Rev Sci Tech. 2001; 19(1):197-225. DOI: 10.20506/rst.19.1.1220. View

Peiris M, Yuen K, Leung C, Chan K, Ip P, Lai R . Human infection with influenza H9N2. Lancet. 1999; 354(9182):916-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03311-5. View

Kwon H, Cho S, Kim M, Ahn Y, Kim S . Molecular epizootiology of recurrent low pathogenic avian influenza by H9N2 subtype virus in Korea. Avian Pathol. 2006; 35(4):309-15. DOI: 10.1080/03079450600821166. View

Zhou E, Chan M, Heckert R, Riva J, Cantin M . Evaluation of a competitive ELISA for detection of antibodies against avian influenza virus nucleoprotein. Avian Dis. 1998; 42(3):517-22. View

Shortridge K . Pandemic influenza: a zoonosis?. Semin Respir Infect. 1992; 7(1):11-25. View

Toennessen R, Germundsson A, Jonassen C, Haugen I, Berg K, Barrett R . Virological and serological surveillance for type A influenza in the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). Virol J. 2011; 8:21. PMC: 3032712. DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-21. View

Cameron K, Gregory V, Banks J, Brown I, Alexander D, Hay A . H9N2 subtype influenza A viruses in poultry in pakistan are closely related to the H9N2 viruses responsible for human infection in Hong Kong. Virology. 2000; 278(1):36-41. DOI: 10.1006/viro.2000.0585. View

Monne I, Ormelli S, Salviato A, De Battisti C, Bettini F, Salomoni A . Development and validation of a one-step real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of subtype H5, H7, and H9 avian influenza viruses. J Clin Microbiol. 2008; 46(5):1769-73. PMC: 2395090. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02204-07. View

Connor R, Kawaoka Y, Webster R, Paulson J . Receptor specificity in human, avian, and equine H2 and H3 influenza virus isolates. Virology. 1994; 205(1):17-23. DOI: 10.1006/viro.1994.1615. View

10.

Capua I, Alexander D . Avian influenza: recent developments. Avian Pathol. 2004; 33(4):393-404. DOI: 10.1080/03079450410001724085. View

11.

Molia S, Samake K, Diarra A, Sidibe M, Doumbia L, Camara S . Avian influenza and Newcastle disease in three risk areas for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in Mali, 2007-2008. Avian Dis. 2012; 55(4):650-8. DOI: 10.1637/9775-050911-Reg.1. View

12.

Spackman E, Senne D, Myers T, Bulaga L, Garber L, Perdue M . Development of a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay for type A influenza virus and the avian H5 and H7 hemagglutinin subtypes. J Clin Microbiol. 2002; 40(9):3256-60. PMC: 130722. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.9.3256-3260.2002. View

13.

Gilbert M, Pfeiffer D . Risk factor modelling of the spatio-temporal patterns of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAIV) H5N1: a review. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol. 2012; 3(3):173-83. PMC: 3389348. DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2012.01.002. View

14.

Li K, Xu K, Peiris J, Poon L, Yu K, Yuen K . Characterization of H9 subtype influenza viruses from the ducks of southern China: a candidate for the next influenza pandemic in humans?. J Virol. 2003; 77(12):6988-94. PMC: 156195. DOI: 10.1128/jvi.77.12.6988-6994.2003. View

15.

Song D, Lee Y, Jeong O, Kim Y, Park C, Yoo J . Evaluation of a competitive ELISA for antibody detection against avian influenza virus. J Vet Sci. 2009; 10(4):323-9. PMC: 2807269. DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2009.10.4.323. View

16.

Couacy-Hymann E, Kouakou V, Aplogan G, Awoume F, Kouakou C, Kakpo L . Surveillance for influenza viruses in poultry and swine, west Africa, 2006-2008. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012; 18(9):1446-52. PMC: 3437700. DOI: 10.3201/eid1809.111296. View

17.

Afifi M, El-Kady M, Zoelfakar S, Abdel-Moneim A, Abddel-Moneim A . Serological surveillance reveals widespread influenza A H7 and H9 subtypes among chicken flocks in Egypt. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2012; 45(2):687-90. DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0243-9. View

18.

Lee C, Jung K, Jadhao S, Suarez D . Evaluation of chicken-origin (DF-1) and quail-origin (QT-6) fibroblast cell lines for replication of avian influenza viruses. J Virol Methods. 2008; 153(1):22-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2008.06.019. View

19.

Feare C . Role of wild birds in the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 and implications for global surveillance. Avian Dis. 2010; 54(1 Suppl):201-12. DOI: 10.1637/8766-033109-ResNote.1. View

20.

Al-Natour M, Abo-Shehada M . Sero-prevalence of avian influenza among broiler-breeder flocks in Jordan. Prev Vet Med. 2005; 70(1-2):45-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.02.009. View