Abstract
High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) have caused major epizootics in the last years with devastating consequences for poultry and wildlife worldwide. Domestic and wild ducks can be highly susceptible to HPAIVs, and infection leads to efficient viral replication and massive shedding (i.e., high titers for an extended time), contributing to widespread viral dissemination. Importantly, ducks are known to shed high amounts of virus in the earliest phase of infection, but the dynamics and impact of environmental contamination in the epidemiology of HPAIV outbreaks is poorly understood, as well as possible application in surveillance.
A comprehensive analysis of data collected during different previous and ongoing studies was performed: these data are based on field sampling and PCR detection of HPAIV in dust or aerosol in duck farms in France. The relevance of dust sampling was also specifically evaluated in the framework of vaccination surveillance. The performance of dust sampling was compared to oropharyngeal and/or cloacal swabs testing.
Our results, combined with previous field and experimental observations, suggest that dust sampling may represent a relevant alternative or complement to tracheal or cloacal swabbing, as it is cheap, non-invasive for animals, simpler and quicker to carry out. Further research and validation are needed to implement dust sampling in the toolbox of HPAI surveillance.
A comprehensive analysis of data collected during different previous and ongoing studies was performed: these data are based on field sampling and PCR detection of HPAIV in dust or aerosol in duck farms in France. The relevance of dust sampling was also specifically evaluated in the framework of vaccination surveillance. The performance of dust sampling was compared to oropharyngeal and/or cloacal swabs testing.
Our results, combined with previous field and experimental observations, suggest that dust sampling may represent a relevant alternative or complement to tracheal or cloacal swabbing, as it is cheap, non-invasive for animals, simpler and quicker to carry out. Further research and validation are needed to implement dust sampling in the toolbox of HPAI surveillance.
Co-Author(s)
Jean-Luc Guerin, Fabien Filaire, Pierre Bessière, Clément Castille, Lilou Bortot, Nicolas Gaide, Aurélie Sécula, Timothée Vergne, Guillaume Croville, Sébastien Soubies
IHAP, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France
Abstract Category
Diagnostics, vaccination, or other mitigation strategies for poultry and wildlife