Characterization of Subtype H6 Avian Influenza A Viruses Isolated From Wild Birds in Poyang Lake, China

Subtype H6 avian influenza A viruses (IAVs) are enzootic and genetically diverse in both domestic poultry and wild waterfowl and may cause spillovers in both pigs and humans. Thus, it is important to understand the genetic diversity of H6 IAVs in birds and their zoonotic potential. Compared with that in domestic poultry, the genetic diversity of H6 viruses in wild birds in China has not been well-understood. In this study, five H6 viruses were isolated from wild birds in Poyang Lake, China, and genetic analyses showed that these isolates are clustered into four genotypes associated with reassortments among avian IAVs from domestic poultry and wild birds in China and those from Eurasia and North America and that these viruses exhibited distinct phenotypes in growth kinetics analyses with avian and mammalian cells lines and in mouse challenge experiments. Of interest is that two H6 isolates from the Eurasian teal replicated effectively in the mouse lung without prior adaptation, whereas the other three did not. Our study suggested that there are variations in the mammalian viral replication efficiency phenotypic among genetically diverse H6 IAVs in wild birds and that both intra- and inter-continental movements of IAVs through wild bird migration may facilitate the emergence of novel H6 IAV reassortants with the potential for replicating in mammals, including humans. Continued surveillance to monitor the diversity of H6 IAVs in wild birds is necessary to increase our understanding of the natural history of IAVs.

Genetic Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus in Pakistani Live Bird Markets Reveals Rapid Diversification of Clade 2.3.4.4b Viruses

The highly pathogenic (HPAI) avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have undergone reassortment with multiple non-N1-subtype neuraminidase genes since 2008, leading to the emergence of H5Nx viruses. H5Nx viruses established themselves quickly in birds and disseminated from China to Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. Multiple genetic clades have successively evolved through frequent mutations and reassortment, posing a continuous threat to domestic poultry and causing substantial economic losses. Live bird markets are recognized as major sources of avian-to-human infection and for the emergence of zoonotic influenza. In Pakistan, the A(H5N1) virus was first reported in domestic birds in 2007; however, avian influenza surveillance is limited and there is a lack of knowledge on the evolution and transmission of the A(H5) virus in the country. We collected oropharyngeal swabs from domestic poultry and environmental samples from six different live bird markets during 2018–2019. We detected and sequenced HPAI A(H5N8) viruses from two chickens, one quail and one environmental sample in two markets. Temporal phylogenetics indicated that all novel HPAI A(H5N8) viruses belonged to clade 2.3.4.4b, with all eight genes of Pakistan A(H5N8) viruses most closely related to 2017 Saudi Arabia A(H5N8) viruses, which were likely introduced via cross-border transmission from neighboring regions approximately three months prior to virus detection into domestic poultry. Our data further revealed that clade 2.3.4.4b viruses underwent rapid lineage expansion in 2017 and acquired significant amino acid mutations, including mutations associated with increased haemagglutinin affinity to human α-2,6 receptors, prior to the first human A(H5N8) infection in Russian poultry workers in 2020. These results highlight the need for systematic avian influenza surveillance in live bird markets in Pakistan to monitor for potential A(H5Nx) variants that may arise from poultry populations.

Antimicrobial Usage in Commercial and Domestic Poultry Farming in Two Communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Poultry farming is a common practice in Ghana. Antibiotics are used, particularly in commercial poultry farming, as growth promoters and to prevent and cure infections. However, there is little information on antimicrobial usage in domestic poultry farming in Ghana. This study aimed to describe antimicrobial usage in commercial and domestic poultry farming. A cross-sectional survey was conducted within the Ashanti region of Ghana including 33 commercial farms and 130 households with domestic poultry farming. The median poultry population on commercial farms was 1500 (IQR: 300–3000) compared with 18 (IQR: 10–25) on domestic farms. The majority (97%, n = 32) of commercial farms used antimicrobials, compared with 43% (n = 56) of the domestic farms. Commercial farmers were 6.1 (CI: 3.2–11.8) times more likely to read and follow instructions on antimicrobials in comparison with domestic poultry keepers. About 11% of domestic and 34% of commercial farmers had received education on antimicrobial usage. None of the commercial farmers used herbal remedies; however, 40% (n/N = 52/130) of domestic farmers administered herbs. The misuse of antimicrobials in domestic poultry production calls for stricter regulations and training to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among poultry.

Streptomyces biomass – effective additive in poultry nutrition

Introduction. The breeding of domestic poultry is an important source to soupplement the human needs in animal proteins with a high biological value. Therefore, knowledge and guidance of the factors that influence poultry production is a guarantee of increasing these productions, both in terms of quantity and quality.Material and methods. The investigation was aimed to administer the 0.05% and 0.1% streptomyces biomass in the recipe of combined fodder, intended for the feeding of young poultry of the Argintie de Adler breed, in order to identify the effectiveness of its administration.Results. The supplementing of streptomyces biomass in the proportion of 0.1% in the recipe of combined feed intended for feeding the poultry of the Argintie de Adler breed, contributed to a 5.1% gross weight gain and a lower specific consumption by 9.9% in chickens from the experimental batch, compared to those of the control batch.Conclusions. The assessment of the dynamic indices of growth and development in chickens of the Argintie de Adler breed, as a result of supplementation of nutrition recipes with streptomyces biomass, has established a sure way to boost the productivity.

Systemic infection with highly pathogenic H5N8 of avian origin produces encephalitis and mortality in wild mammals at a UK rehabilitation centre

Europe has experienced extensive outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during the autumn/winter 2020/21 season. These avian influenza A viruses are highly transmissible and have infected over 1000 commercial and backyard poultry premises in Europe in this period causing high mortality. The impact on wild bird populations has also been significant, with over 400 detections in at least 47 different species reported across Europe as being positive with the H5N8 virus. Although different H5Nx combinations within the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b have been detected, the H5N8 subtype has predominated both in wild birds and domestic poultry outbreaks. In the UK there have been 22 outbreaks of H5N8 in domestic poultry and captive birds and more than 300 wild bird detections involving H5N8 over the autumn/winter 2020/21 period to April 2021. Here we detail the series of events surrounding the detection of an H5N8 influenza A virus of avian origin in five swans, a fox and three seals in a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Avian Influenza in Wild Birds and Poultry: Dissemination Pathways, Monitoring Methods, and Virus Ecology

Avian influenza is one of the largest known threats to domestic poultry. Influenza outbreaks on poultry farms typically lead to the complete slaughter of the entire domestic bird population, causing severe economic losses worldwide. Moreover, there are highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains that are able to infect the swine or human population in addition to their primary avian host and, as such, have the potential of being a global zoonotic and pandemic threat. Migratory birds, especially waterfowl, are a natural reservoir of the avian influenza virus; they carry and exchange different virus strains along their migration routes, leading to antigenic drift and antigenic shift, which results in the emergence of novel HPAI viruses. This requires monitoring over time and in different locations to allow for the upkeep of relevant knowledge on avian influenza virus evolution and the prevention of novel epizootic and epidemic outbreaks. In this review, we assess the role of migratory birds in the spread and introduction of influenza strains on a global level, based on recent data. Our analysis sheds light on the details of viral dissemination linked to avian migration, the viral exchange between migratory waterfowl and domestic poultry, virus ecology in general, and viral evolution as a process tightly linked to bird migration. We also provide insight into methods used to detect and quantify avian influenza in the wild. This review may be beneficial for the influenza research community and may pave the way to novel strategies of avian influenza and HPAI zoonosis outbreak monitoring and prevention.

Features of the functioning of the poultrymeat market

The state of the poultry market and highlights the peculiarities of its functioning has been researchedin the article.The poultry market as competitive and efficient with other meat marketshas been identified.And the poultry industry has maintained a positive production trend in recent years. In Ukraine, the poultry population is growing from year to year. In nineteen years, the number of poultry in agricultural enterprises has increased more than five times. A feature of the poultry market is the concentration of poultry and meat production in agricultural enterprises. More than 85percent of the poultry meat production in the slaughter mass was provided by agricultural enterprises. Most poultry meat was produced in Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions. It is substantiated that the increase in poultry meat production is primarily due to the growth of demand from the population in conditions of low purchasing power. Poultry meat remains the most affordable for most meat consumers. In addition, due to a significant reduction in the supply of other types of meat, and consequently rising prices for them, poultry has become a substitute for most meat consumers. At the same time, many consumers have changed their tastes and preferences for a particular type of meat in favor of dietary poultry meat. The balances of supply and demand of poultry meat were analyzed. It has been proven that domestic poultry production fully meets domestic demand and has reserves to increase exports. It is noted that the further development of the domestic poultry market will depend, first of all, on solving the crisis problems in the world. In addition, indicators of production efficiency and product competitiveness will have a significant impact. Keywords: market, poultry meat, production, supply, demand, consumption, price.

Prevalence and Some Predisposing Factors Associated with Cryptosporidium Infections in Domestic Poultry in Enugu State, Nigeria

Cryptosporidium is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that is of major public health and veterinary concerns. This study determined the prevalence and some predisposing factors associated with Cryptosporidium infection in domestic poultry kept in households and in the major live bird markets in the study area. Atotal of 314 fresh faecal samples were collected from domestic poultry in the randomly selected homes that keep poultry and live bird market in the study area. They were examined using the Formol-ether sedimentation method. Faecal smears were then stained by the Ziehl Neelson technique and examined under light microscopy. Cryptosporidium was identified using the staining characteristics of the oocysts. Results were analysed by descriptive statistics and GraphPad prism statistical package version 5.2.Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in the faeces of 90 (28.7%) of the 314 poultry sampled. There was a strong association (p < 0.05) between the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and age, sex, breed and faecal consistency. However, there was no significant association (p > 0.05) between the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and locality as well as the type of management practice used in keeping the birds. This study suggests that domestic poultry in Enugu State harbour and shed Cryptosporidium oocysts in the environment. The shedding of this oocyst in the environment is of zoonotic importance especially in poultry that do not show clinical signs and therefore were not treated. Hence, constituting a public health risk, especially to immune-compromised humans, considering that almost every household keep chicken for food or income and the poultry dung is popularly used to cultivate vegetables eaten by humans and animals in the study area. Keywords: Cryptosporidium, Poultry, Prevalence, Risk Factor