Avian influenza in Australia: a summary of 5 years of wild bird surveillance. Issue 11 (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grillo, VL; Arzey, KE; Hansbro, PM; Hurt, AC; Warner, S; Bergfeld, J; Burgess, GW; Cookson, B; Dickason, CJ; Ferenczi, M; Hollingsworth, T; Hoque, MDA; Jackson, RB; Klaassen, M; Kirkland, PD; Kung, NY; Lisovski, S; O'Dea, MA; O'Riley, K; Roshier, D; Skerratt, LF; Tracey, JP; Wang, X; Woods, R; Post, L
• Is Part Of: Australian veterinary journal. Volume 93:Issue 11(2015)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Australia -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/avj.12379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-0423

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="avj12379-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="avj12379-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="avj12379-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="avj12379-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> </abstract>