title: Identifying the species-origin of faecal droppings used for avian influenza virus surveillance in wild-birds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in birds is important for public health. Faecal droppings from wild-birds are more readily available for such studies, but the inability to identify the species-origin of faecal samples limits their value.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop, optimise, and field-test a method to simultaneously detect AIV and identify the species-origin from faecal samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytical sensitivity of the species-identification RT-PCR was assessed on serial dilutions of faecal droppings. Overall sensitivity of the methods for species-identification and AIV detection was assessed on 92 faecal and cloacal samples collected from wildlife, poultry markets, and experimentally H5N1-infected birds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 92 samples were correctly identified to 24 different species, with a detection limit of 2.8mug of faecal material. All 20 specimens previously shown by virus culture to be positive for influenza virus were correctly identified by RT-PCR for influenza A using the same nucleic-acid extracts used for species-identification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have optimised and evaluated a method for identifying the species of origin and detecting AIV from bird faecal droppings that can be applied to routine surveillance of influenza viruses in wild-birds.
authors: State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors: Peter P
authors: PP
authors: Cheung
authors: Y H Connie
authors: YH
authors: Leung
authors: Chun-Kin
authors: CK
authors: Chow
authors: Chi-Fung
authors: CF
authors: Ng
authors: Chun-Lok
authors: CL
authors: Tsang
authors: Yu-On
authors: YO
authors: Wu
authors: Siu-Kit
authors: SK
authors: Ma
authors: Sin-Fun
authors: SF
authors: Sia
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Guan
authors: J S M
authors: JS
authors: Peiris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers