title: Putative human and avian risk factors for avian influenza virus infections in backyard poultry in Egypt.
abstract: Highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 causes significant poultry mortality in the six countries where it is endemic and can also infect humans. Egypt has reported the third highest number of poultry outbreaks (n=1084) globally. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify putative risk factors for H5N1 infections in backyard poultry in 16 villages in Damietta, El Gharbia, Fayoum, and Menofia governorates from 2010-2012. Cloacal and tracheal swabs and serum samples from domestic (n=1242) and wild birds (n=807) were tested for H5N1 via RT-PCR and hemagglutination inhibition, respectively. We measured poultry rearing practices with questionnaires (n=306 households) and contact rates among domestic and wild bird species with scan sampling. Domestic birds (chickens, ducks, and geese, n=51) in three governorates tested positive for H5N1 by PCR or serology. A regression model identified a significant correlation between H5N1 in poultry and the practice of disposing of dead poultry and poultry feces in the garbage (F=15.7, p<0.0001). In addition, contact between domestic and wild birds was more frequent in villages where we detected H5N1 in backyard flocks (F=29.5, p<0.0001).
authors: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta Branch, Mansoura University, P.O. Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt; Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA. Electronic address: basmasheta@ucla.edu.
authors: Basma M
authors: BM
authors: Sheta
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Trevon L
authors: TL
authors: Fuller
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Larison
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Kevin Y
authors: KY
authors: Njabo
authors: National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production (NLQP), Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264, Nadi El Said Street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed Samy
authors: AS
authors: Ahmed
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Ryan
authors: R
authors: Harrigan
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Chasar
authors: National Laboratory for Veterinary Quality Control on Poultry Production (NLQP), Animal Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 264, Nadi El Said Street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
authors: Soad
authors: S
authors: Abdel Aziz
authors: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta Branch, Mansoura University, P.O. Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt.
authors: Abdel-Aziz A
authors: AA
authors: Khidr
authors: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta Branch, Mansoura University, P.O. Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed M
authors: MM
authors: Elbokl
authors: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta Branch, Mansoura University, P.O. Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt.
authors: Lotfy Z
authors: LZ
authors: Habbak
authors: Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Los Angeles 90095-1496, CA, USA.
authors: Thomas B
authors: TB
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Disease reservoirs; Influenza A virus – H5N1 subtype; Influenza in birds; Poultry diseases; Zoonoses