title: Surveillance for influenza viruses in poultry and swine, west Africa, 2006-2008.
abstract: To determine the extent of animal influenza virus circulation in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Togo, we initiated systematic year-round active influenza surveillance in backyard birds (predominantly chickens, guinea fowl, and ducks) and pigs. A total of 26,746 swab specimens were screened by using reverse transcription PCR. Animal influenza prevalence was estimated at 0 (95% CIs for each of the 2 study years 0-0.04% to 0-1.48% [birds] and 0-0.28% to 0-5% [pigs]). In addition, 2,276 serum samples from the same populations were negative for influenza-specific antibodies. These data indicate that the environments and host populations previously identified as harboring high levels of influenza virus in Southeast Asia do not do so in these 3 countries. The combination of climate and animal density factors might be responsible for what appears to be the absence of influenza virus in the backyard sector of the 3 countries.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Animal Diseases, Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Couacy-Hymann
authors.forename: Viviane A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kouakou
authors.forename: Gilbert L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Aplogan
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Awoume
authors.forename: Casimir K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kouakou
authors.forename: Lamidi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kakpo
authors.forename: Bridgett R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McClenaghan
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Webby
authors.forename: Mariette F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ducatez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001541:Benin / Q000453:epidemiology; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011200:Poultry; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology