Surveillance, epidemiological, and virological detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses in duck and poultry from Bangladesh.
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) continue to pose a global threat. Waterfowl are the main reservoir and are responsible for the spillover of AIVs to other hosts. This study was conducted as part of routine surveillance activities in Bangladesh and it reports on the serological and molecular detection of H5N1 AIV subtype. A total of 2169 cloacal and 2191 oropharyngeal swabs as well as 1725 sera samples were collected from live birds including duck and chicken in different locations in Bangladesh between the years of 2013 and 2014. Samples were tested using virus isolation, serological tests and molecular methods of RT-PCR. Influenza A viruses were detected using reverse transcription PCR targeting the virus matrix (M) gene in 41/4360 (0.94%) samples including both cloacal and oropharyngeal swab samples, 31 of which were subtyped as H5N1 using subtype-specific primers. Twenty-one live H5N1 virus isolates were recovered from those 31 samples. Screening of 1,868 blood samples collected from the same birds using H5-specific ELISA identified 545/1603 (34%) positive samples. Disconcertingly, an analysis of 221 serum samples collected from vaccinated layer chicken in four districts revealed that only 18 samples (8.1%) were seropositive for anti H5 antibodies, compared to unvaccinated birds (n=105), where 8 samples (7.6%) were seropositive. Our result indicates that the vaccination program as currently implemented should be reviewed and updated. In addition, surveillance programs are crucial for monitoring the efficacy of the current poultry vaccinations programs, and to monitor the circulating AIV strains and emergence of AIV subtypes in Bangladesh.
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Wahedul Karim
WK
Ansari
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Shafiullah
MS
Parvej
School of Health Sciences, KwaZulu Natal University, Durban 4000, South Africa; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA. Electronic address: elzow001@gmail.com.
Mohamed E
ME
El Zowalaty
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Sally
S
Jackson
Postgraduate Medical Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK.
Stephen A
SA
Bustin
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Adel K
AK
Ibrahim
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
Ahmed E
AE
El Zowalaty
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Tanvir
MT
Rahman
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.
Han
H
Zhang
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Ferdousur Rahman
MF
Khan
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Mostakin
MM
Ahamed
Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Fasiur
MF
Rahman
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Marzia
M
Rahman
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
K H M Nazmul Hussain
KH
Nazir
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Sultan
S
Ahmed
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Liakot
ML
Hossen
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
Md Abdul
MA
Kafi
Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Bangladesh.
Mat
M
Yamage
Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Bangladesh.
Nitish C
NC
Debnath
Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Bangladesh.
Graba
G
Ahmed
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Hossam M
HM
Ashour
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Md
M
Masudur Rahman
School of Pharmacy, Chapman University, Irvine, California, 92618, USA.
Ayman
A
Noreddin
Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Electronic address: bahanurr@gmail.com.
Md Bahanur
MB
Rahman
D000818:Animals; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology
Avian Influenza; Bangladesh; Duck; H5N1; Influenza A virus; Isolation; Live bird markets; Poultry; Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; Surveillance; Virus; Wild birds