title: The risk factors for avian influenza on poultry farms: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Avian influenza is a severe threat both to humans and poultry, but so far, no systematic review on the identification and evaluation of the risk factors of avian influenza infection has been published. The objective of this meta-analysis is to provide evidence for decision-making and further research on AI prevention through identifying the risk factors associated with AI infection on poultry farms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results from 15 selected studies on risk factors for AI infections on poultry farms were analyzed quantitatively by meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Open water source (OR=2.89), infections on nearby farms (OR=4.54), other livestock (OR=1.90) and disinfection of farm (OR=0.54) have significant association with AI infection on poultry farms. The subgroup analysis results indicate that there exist different risk factors for AI infections in different types of farms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main risk factors for AI infection in poultry farms are environmental conditions (open water source, infections on nearby farms), keeping other livestock on the same farm and no disinfection of the farm.
authors: Faculty of Animal Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Department of Epidemiology Survey, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao 206032, China.
authors: Youming
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
authors: Yangli
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Epidemiology Survey, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao 206032, China.
authors: Xiangdong
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Epidemiology Survey, China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center, Qingdao 206032, China.
authors: Kangzhen
authors: K
authors: Yu
authors: School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China. Electronic address: yuchua@whu.edu.cn.
authors: Chuanhua
authors: C
authors: Yu
authors: Faculty of Animal Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China. Electronic address: aijian@yzu.edu.cn.
authors: Aijian
authors: A
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011200:Poultry; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Avian influenza; Meta-analysis; Poultry farm; Risk factor