Avian Influenza | Bird Flu

Avian Influenza Virus Hosts

Avian influenza A viruses can infect a variety of domestic and wild avian species (including chickens, turkeys, ducks, domestic geese, quail, pheasants, partridge, psittacines, gulls, shorebirds, seabirds, emu, and others). The clinical manifestation of infection in birds ranges from asymptomatic infection to rapidly fatal disease (see References: Horimoto 2001).

Aquatic birds, particularly ducks, shore birds, and gulls, are considered the natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses. These waterfowl generally do not develop disease when infected with avian influenza viruses (see References: Horimoto 2001); however, an outbreak of H5N1 among migratory geese and other wild birds in Qinghai province, China, was reported in May 2005 (see References: OIE: Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the People's Republic of China 2005).

Recently, investigators in Asia have shown that asymptomatically infected domestic ducks are shedding more H5N1 virus for longer periods in 2004 when compared with 2003, which may be amplifying the spread of H5N1 to domestic poultry (see References: FAO/OIE/WHO 2004). Another report demonstrated the presence of H5N1 influenza virus in asymptomatic eagles that were smuggled from Thailand into Belgium in 2004 (see References: Borm 2005). Just recently H5N1 has been identified in turkeys (see October 13, 2005, CIDRAP News story).

As noted above, influenza A viruses (including those of avian origin) also can cause illness in humans and other animal hosts (pigs, horses, sea mammals, and mustelids). The H5N1 avian influenza virus circulating in Asia has been found in pigs in China and Indonesia and has also expanded its host range to include cats, leopards, and tigers, which generally have not been considered susceptible to influenza A (see References: Keawcharoen 2004, Thanawongnuwech 2005).

Free Ask Question:

1. Definition of Avian Influenza?

2. Agent?

3. Hosts?

4. Transmission?

5. Key Outbreaks of HPAI in Domestic Avian Populations?

6. Current Status of H5N1 in Asia?

7. HPAI As a Biological Weapon?

8. Clinical Features?

9. Differential Diagnosis?

10. Laboratory Diagnosis?

11. Treatment?

12. Prevention?

13. Outbreak Control in Poultr?