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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (highly + pathogenic_avian_influenza)
Selected AbstractsRecent expansion of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1: a critical reviewIBIS, Issue 2 2007M. GAUTHIER-CLERC Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are a key element of the viral ecology of avian influenza. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, subtype H5N1, was first detected in poultry in November 1996 in southeast China, where it originated. The virus subsequently dispersed throughout most of Asia, and also to Africa and Europe. Despite compelling evidence that the virus has been dispersed widely via human activities that include farming, and marketing of poultry, migratory birds have been widely considered to be the primary source of its global dispersal. Here we present a critical examination of the arguments both for and against the role of migratory birds in the global dispersal of HPAI H5N1. We conclude that, whilst wild birds undoubtedly contribute to the local spread of the virus in the wild, human commercial activities, particularly those associated with poultry, are the major factors that have determined its global dispersal. [source] Avian influenza surveillance in wild birds in the European Union in 2006INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, Issue 1 2009Uta Hesterberg Abstract Background, Infections of wild birds with highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) subtype H5N1 virus were reported for the first time in the European Union in 2006. Objectives, To capture epidemiological information on H5N1 HPAI in wild bird populations through large-scale surveillance and extensive data collection. Methods, Records were analysed at bird level to explore the epidemiology of AI with regard to species of wild birds involved, timing and location of infections as well as the applicability of different surveillance types for the detection of infections. Results, In total, 120,706 records of birds were sent to the Community Reference Laboratory for analysis. Incidents of H5N1 HPAI in wild birds were detected in 14 EU Member States during 2006. All of these incidents occurred between February and May, with the exception of two single cases during the summer months in Germany and Spain. Conclusions, For the detection of H5N1 HPAI virus, passive surveillance of dead or diseased birds appeared the most effective approach, whilst active surveillance offered better detection of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses. No carrier species for H5N1 HPAI virus could be identified and almost all birds infected with H5N1 HPAI virus were either dead or showed clinical signs. A very large number of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were tested in 2006 and while a high proportion of LPAI infections were found in this species, H5N1 HPAI virus was rarely identified in these birds. Orders of species that appeared to be very clinically susceptible to H5N1 HPAI virus were swans, diving ducks, mergansers and grebes, supporting experimental evidence. Surveillance results indicate that H5N1 HPAI virus did not establish itself successfully in the EU wild bird population in 2006. [source] Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the USAINTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2009Thomas J. DELIBERTO Abstract As part of the USA's National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, an Interagency Strategic Plan for the Early Detection of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory Birds was developed and implemented. From 1 April 2006 through 31 March 2009, 261 946 samples from wild birds and 101 457 wild bird fecal samples were collected in the USA; no highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected. The United States Department of Agriculture, and state and tribal cooperators accounted for 213 115 (81%) of the wild bird samples collected; 31, 27, 21 and 21% of the samples were collected from the Atlantic, Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways, respectively. More than 250 species of wild birds in all 50 states were sampled. The majority of wild birds (86%) were dabbling ducks, geese, swans and shorebirds. The apparent prevalence of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses during biological years 2007 and 2008 was 9.7 and 11.0%, respectively. The apparent prevalence of H5 and H7 subtypes across all species sampled were 0.5 and 0.06%, respectively. The pooled fecal samples (n= 101 539) positive for low pathogenic avian influenza were 4.0, 6.7 and 4.7% for biological years 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. The highly pathogenic early detection system for wild birds developed and implemented in the USA represents the largest coordinated wildlife disease surveillance system ever conducted. This effort provided evidence that wild birds in the USA were free of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (given the expected minimum prevalence of 0.001%) at the 99.9% confidence level during the surveillance period. [source] Are the Australian poultry industries vulnerable to large outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza?AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009SA Hamilton Objective To describe the structure of the Australian poultry industry and discuss the potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to spread between Australian poultry farms. Procedure High densities of poultry farms, frequent contacts between farms by service providers, the supply of live poultry markets (LPM) and the presence of free-range duck flocks in affected regions have been identified as risk factors for the spread of HPAI between flocks in outbreaks causing the death or destruction of over 1 million poultry overseas. Data on 1,594 commercial Australian chicken meat, chicken egg, duck and turkey farms were collected by a telephone questionnaire of farm managers to assess the risk of a HPAI outbreak in Australia. Results and Discussion Five regions of Australia had farm densities comparable to overseas regions that experienced widespread HPAI. Common service providers routinely contacted different classes and types of farms over wide geographic areas. However, no responding farms supplied LPM and the majority of duck farms did not produce free-range ducks. Conclusion Outbreaks of HPAI have the potential to cause serious impacts on the Australian poultry industry. The risk posted by LPM and free-range ducks is limited, but the movement of genetic stock and common service providers could spread infection between companies, industries or geographical regions. Biosecurity measures are therefore considered critical to limit the secondary spread of infection should an outbreak occur. [source] Cell surface display of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus hemagglutinin on the surface of Pichia pastoris cells using ,-agglutinin for production of oral vaccines ,BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2010Jamie L. Wasilenko Abstract Yeast is an ideal organism to express viral antigens because yeast glycosylate proteins more similarly to mammals than bacteria. Expression of proteins in yeast is relatively fast and inexpensive. In addition to the convenience of production, for purposes of vaccination, yeast has been shown to have natural adjuvant activity making the expressed proteins more immunogenic when administered along with yeast cell wall components. Development of genetic systems to display foreign proteins on the surface of yeast via fusion to glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored (GPI) proteins has further simplified the purification of recombinant proteins by not requiring harsh treatments for cellular lysis or protein purification. We have expressed the hemagglutinin protein from a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus [A/Egret/HK/757.2/02], subtype H5N1, on the surface of the yeast strain Pichia pastoris, as an anchored C-terminal fusion with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GPI-anchored cell wall protein, ,-agglutinin. Surface expression of the hemagglutinin fusion protein was demonstrated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Functionally, the fusion protein retained hemagglutinin agglutinating activity, and oral vaccination with the yeast resulted in production of virus neutralizing antibodies. This study represents the first steps in the generation of a yeast-based vaccine for protection against highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza. Published 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source] | |||||||||||||