Avian influenza in Australia: a summary of 5 years of wild bird surveillance.
BACKGROUND
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are found worldwide in numerous bird species, causing significant disease in gallinaceous poultry and occasionally other species. Surveillance of wild bird reservoirs provides an opportunity to add to the understanding of the epidemiology of AIVs.


METHODS
This study examined key findings from the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program over a 5-year period (July 2007-June 2012), the main source of information on AIVs circulating in Australia.


RESULTS
The overall proportion of birds that tested positive for influenza A via PCR was 1.9 ± 0.1%, with evidence of widespread exposure of Australian wild birds to most low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) subtypes (H1-13, H16). LPAI H5 subtypes were found to be dominant and widespread during this 5-year period.


CONCLUSIONS
Given Australia's isolation, both geographically and ecologically, it is important for Australia not to assume that the epidemiology of AIV from other geographic regions applies here. Despite all previous highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Australian poultry being attributed to H7 subtypes, widespread detection of H5 subtypes in wild birds may represent an ongoing risk to the Australian poultry industry.
Wildlife Health Australia, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia. tgrillo@wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au.
V L
VL
Grillo
Virology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Camden, NSW, Australia.
K E
KE
Arzey
Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Disease, Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
P M
PM
Hansbro
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, North Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
A C
AC
Hurt
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resource, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
S
S
Warner
Australian Animal Health Laboratory, CSIRO Animal Food and Health Sciences, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
J
J
Bergfeld
One Health Research Group, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
G W
GW
Burgess
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
B
B
Cookson
Biosecurity SA, Primary Industries & Regions, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
C J
CJ
Dickason
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
M
M
Ferenczi
Department of Agriculture and Food, Bunbury, WA, Australia.
T
T
Hollingsworth
One Health Research Group, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Mda
M
Hoque
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Launceston, TAS, Australia.
R B
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5329-1292
RB
Jackson
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
M
M
Klaassen
Virology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Camden, NSW, Australia.
P D
PD
Kirkland
Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
N Y
NY
Kung
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
S
S
Lisovski
Department of Agriculture and Food, South Perth, WA, Australia.
M A
MA
O'Dea
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resource, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
K
K
O'Riley
Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
D
D
Roshier
One Health Research Group, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
L F
LF
Skerratt
Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Forest Road, Orange, NSW, Australia.
J P
JP
Tracey
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resource, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
X
X
Wang
Wildlife Health Australia, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia.
R
R
Woods
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
L
L
Post
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001717:Birds; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005843:Geography; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D016014:Linear Models; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance
D000914:Antibodies, Viral
Australia; avian influenza; biosecurity; surveillance; wild birds