Abstract Title
Avian Influenza Serotype H5 in Free Roaming Waterfowl in Nigeria
Abstract
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is the most devastating disease of poultry globally and in Nigeria. Many strains of influenza A virus (IAV) especially subtype H5 cause outbreaks in poultry likely due to environmental contact with potential carriers of IAV in poor biosecurity settings. The role of free roaming waterfowls as transmitter of HPAI is not well described. In this investigation, we collected 17 tracheal, cloaca swabs and sera samples from free roaming waterfowls and from those kept in enclosures in a zoological garden for Influenza virus and antibody detection. Viral RNAs were extracted from swabs, examined for the matrix (M) gene of influenza A viruses RT-qPCR, while sera were analyzed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Influenza A reactive sera were further assayed for H5 serotype by ELISA and Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) test. In the analysis, one (1) serum sample was positive for Influenza A by ELISA (5.2% inhibition). The same serum was also positive for H5 specific serotype by ELISA specific assay (9.2% inhibition) and positive by HI with a titre of 4log 2. From the year 2006 to 2024, HPAI had caused the destruction of over 100 million poultry and 10 billion Euros in economic losses. The HPAI in Nigeria had re-occurred in 4 waves with recurrent introductions attributed to migratory wild birds. This investigation is a rare evidence conforming that scavenging domestic waterfowls serve as bridge species. Exposure of domestic waterfowls and the risk they pose to domestic poultry requires improving biosecurity landscape in Nigeria.
Co-Author(s)
Olayinka Asala1, Judith Bakam1, Oluyemi Ogunmolawa1, Olanrewaju Igah1, Bitrus Inuwa1, Amos Rimfa1, Valerie Allendorf2, Anja Globig2 and Clement Meseko1
1. Infectious & Transboundary Animal Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria
2. Institute of International Animal Health & One Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Insel Riems, Germany
Abstract Category
Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds