title: Avian influenza surveillance in Central and West Africa, 2010-2014.
abstract: Avian influenza virus (AIV) is an important zoonotic pathogen, resulting in global human morbidity and mortality and substantial economic losses to the poultry industry. Poultry and wild birds have transmitted AIV to humans, most frequently subtypes H5 and H7, but also different strains and subtypes of H6, H9, and H10. Determining which birds are AIV reservoirs can help identify human populations that have a high risk of infection with these viruses due to occupational or recreational exposure to the reservoir species. To assess the prevalence of AIV in tropical birds, from 2010 to 2014, we sampled 40 099 birds at 32 sites in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon) and West Africa (Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo). In Central Africa, detection rates by real-time RT-PCR were 16·6% in songbirds (eight passerine families, n = 1257), 16·4% in kingfishers (family Alcedinidae, n = 73), 8·2% in ducks (family Anatidae, n = 564), and 3·65% in chickens (family Phasianidae, n = 1042). Public health authorities should educate human cohorts that have high exposure to these bird populations about AIV and assess their adherence to biosecurity practices, including Cameroonian farmers who raise small backyard flocks.
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Research,Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique,Unité Mixte de Recherche 1225,Interaction Hôtes Agents Pathogènes,Toulouse,France.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ducatez
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Research,Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Njabo
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory for Animal Diseases (LANADA),Bingerville,Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Couacy-Hymann
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Research,Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chasar
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Diagnostic Vétérinaire et de Sérosurveillance (LADISERO),Parakou,Benin.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Aplogan
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Research,Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Vétérinaire de Lomé,Lomé,Togo.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Awoume
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Gestion de Réserve de Faune (CENAGREF),Cotonou,Benin.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Téhou
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique,Unité Mixte de Recherche 1225,Interaction Hôtes Agents Pathogènes,Toulouse,France.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Langeois
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases,St Jude Children's Research Hospital,Memphis,TN,USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.affiliation: Center for Tropical Research,Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California,Los Angeles,CA,USA.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000350:Africa, Central / Q000453:epidemiology; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Avian influenza; influenza A; surveillance