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.

Avian Influenza Viruses Detected in Birds in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

“…This increase could be attributed to the increase in the number of AIV outbreaks recorded within the region, with Nigeria recording 1205 suspected outbreaks [ 100 ] between 2006 and 2007. Additionally, there has been an increase in surveillance studies [ 49 , 51 , 66 , 67 , 85 , 98 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 ] regionally and in different countries, improved laboratory diagnostic capacity and generally enhanced surveillance systems aimed at preventing HPAI outbreaks.…”

Biosecurity Strategies for Backyard Poultry: A Controlled Way for Safe Food Production

“…A serosurveillance study of AIV in Ethiopia showed positive correlation between smaller backyard flock size and the presence of viral antibody (Chaka et al, 2013). Furthermore, in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon), evidence of AIV was detected in chickens, ducks, songbirds, and kingfishers (Fuller et al, 2015). In Mali (West Africa), AI seroprevalence was significantly higher in backyard birds than the commercial farms (Molia et al, 2011).…”

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in pigs, Togo, 2013

“…As observed in the neighboring Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, none of the animal swabs collected in Togo through 2012 had been positive for influenza A virus, nor had any animal serum tested positive for influenza A virus antibodies (Couacy-Hymann et al, 2012). Again from 2011 through 2014, no avian samples tested positive for influenza virus genome or antibody in the 3 countries (Fuller et al, 2014). However in swine, influenza virus genome was detected, demonstrating that influenza activity in the region is not completely absent and likely transient when present.…”