Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mamoona Chaudhry, Hamad Bin Rashid, Michael Thrusfield, Mark C. Eisler, Susan C. Welburn
Summary: In rural areas of Pakistan, there is a high seroprevalence of avian influenzas in backyard poultry, with most poultry being raised for egg/meat production and primarily in a semi-caged system. Continuous surveillance of backyard poultry is necessary to reduce the risk of avian influenza in the country.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Biljana Djurdjevic, Vladimir Polacek, Marko Pajic, Tamas Petrovic, Ivana Vucicevic, Dejan Vidanovic, Sanja Aleksic-Kovacevic
Summary: A novel highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza virus was transmitted through migratory birds in Europe in 2016 and 2017. It first appeared in wild birds in Serbia and then spread to backyard poultry. In 2021/2022, new cases of avian influenza with the H5N1 subtype were reported. This study aims to describe the outbreaks in backyard chickens and identify the virus, confirming severe systemic disease with neurological symptoms.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Miranda Carrisosa, Shanhao Jin, Brigid A. McCrea, Kenneth S. Macklin, Teresa Dormitorio, Rudiger Hauck
Summary: Backyard chicken flocks with low biosecurity are prone to infections with various pathogens, posing risks to nearby poultry and human health. This study found that coccidia were the most common parasite in backyard flocks, with some parasites capable of causing severe diseases. Detected parasites include those that can infect humans, such as Cryptosporidium spp. and Blastocystis spp.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Suman Das Gupta, Brishti Barua, Guillaume Fournie, Md Ahasanul Hoque, Joerg Henning
Summary: This study explored the risk factors associated with avian influenza H5 and H9 seropositivity in backyard chicken farms in Bangladesh. It found that crow abundance in garbage dumping places, presence of migratory wild birds within villages, garbage around poultry houses, specific trading practices, and contact of backyard chickens with other animals were all associated with higher odds of H5 or H9 seropositivity. The findings suggest that small-scale poultry farmers can address these risk factors without requiring large investments, thereby reducing the likelihood of avian influenza outbreaks.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Veterinary Sciences
David Welchman, Rowena Hansen, Levon Stephan, Anna Brzozowska
Summary: This article is an update of a focus article originally published in December 2017, prepared by David Welchman, Rowena Hansen, Levon Stephan, and Anna Brzozowska from APHA.
Article
Virology
Francisca Di Pillo, Cecilia Baumberger, Carla Salazar, Pablo Galdames, Soledad Ruiz, Bridgett Sharp, Pamela Freiden, Shaoyuan Tan, Stacey Schultz-Cherry, Christopher Hamilton-West, Pedro Jimenez-Bluhm
Summary: This study provides the first evidence of avian influenza virus circulation in domestic birds on a Polynesian island and identifies a novel low pathogenic virus. The results reveal the persistence and independent evolution of the virus on the island, enhancing our understanding of avian influenza ecology in the region.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pronesh Dutta, Ariful Islam, Md. Abu Sayeed, Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Md. Sadeque Abdullah, Otun Saha, Mohammed Ziaur Rahman, Marcel Klaassen, Md. Ahasanul Hoque, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
Summary: The study revealed the genomic epidemiology of AIV in backyard poultry in Bangladesh, with H5 and H9 subtypes circulating among the poultry. Despite the circulation of the 2.3.2.1a (new) clade among chicken and duck populations without causing outbreaks, it may be attributed to vaccination.
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Asma Fagrach, Siham Fellahi, Mohammed Kamal Challioui, Oumaima Arbani, Ibtissam El Zirani, Faouzi Kichou, Mohammed Bouslikhane
Summary: No previous studies have focused on describing the current situation of backyard poultry flocks in Morocco and its potential risks to the commercial sector and public health. The survey revealed that backyard poultry farming is a major contributor to the maintenance and spread of diseases due to lack of vaccination, veterinary consulting, biosecurity practices, and irrational self-medication of diseased birds. Outreach programs about disease prevention, biosecurity practices, and prophylactic campaigns should be implemented to mitigate the risks.
Article
Microbiology
Severine Herve, Audrey Schmitz, Francois-Xavier Briand, Stephane Gorin, Stephane Queguiner, Eric Niqueux, Frederic Paboeuf, Axelle Scoizec, Sophie Le Bouquin-Leneveu, Nicolas Eterradossi, Gaelle Simon
Summary: A study conducted in France found that backyard pigs may contract HPAI-H5N8 virus naturally after close contact with contaminated domestic ducks, underscoring the importance of implementing proper biosecurity measures in pig and poultry farms to prevent interspecies transmission of IAV.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Suman Das Gupta, Md. Ahasanul Hoque, Guillaume Fournie, Joerg Henning
Summary: The study in Bangladesh examined the infection patterns of H5N1 and H9N2 avian influenza viruses in different chicken farming systems. While H5 antibodies were detected in unvaccinated birds in all farming systems, H5 and H9 virus circulation was found to be low among healthy chickens. The results can inform risk-based surveillance and mathematical models to understand the dynamics of HPAI infection in poultry.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marie Souvestre, Mattias Delpont, Claire Guinat, Camille Dumat, Laureen Guichard, Lorenzo Manis, Hugues Duret, Jean-Luc Guerin, Guillaume Le Loc'h
Summary: In recent years, the number of backyard poultry flocks in France has been increasing, with motivations for owning poultry being primarily for egg consumption, recycling, and having pet animals. However, there is a lack of awareness about certain diseases and poor implementation of biosecurity practices among owners. By identifying five profiles of family poultry flocks based on flock characteristics and owners' practices and motivations, it highlights the heterogeneity of the backyard poultry sector and provides insights for targeted veterinary and public health education messages to prevent disease transmission.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Muhammad Ali, Muti-ur-Rehman Khan, Asim Aslam, Habib-ur-Rehman, Saima Masood, Ayesha Masood, Muhammad Shahbaz Yousaf, Irtaza Hussain, Saba Usman, Ahsan Anjum
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the molecular characterization and pathological potential of field isolated H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). Results showed high nucleotide and amino acid homology with previously reported strains from Pakistan, clustering in the G1 lineage. Pathological examination revealed degenerative changes, necrosis, congestion, hemorrhages, and mononuclear cell infiltration in the studied organs.
PAKISTAN VETERINARY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Othman M. Alzahrani, Mahmoud Fayez, Amal S. Alswat, Mohamed Alkafafy, Samy F. Mahmoud, Theeb Al-Marri, Ahmed Almuslem, Hassan Ashfaq, Shaymaa Yusuf
Summary: This study investigated the diversity of Enterococcus in healthy backyard birds and identified the occurrence of multidrug resistance, sequence types, virulence genes, and biofilm formation. The results showed that healthy backyard chickens could act as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant and virulent Enterococcus. Effective antimicrobial stewardship programs and One Health approach are necessary to investigate the transmission of antimicrobial resistance from backyard chickens to humans.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebekah Honce, Stacey Schultz-Cherry
Summary: Avian influenza viruses can infect mammals, and the mutations accumulated in viruses obtained from humans infected with emerging avian H3N8 viruses can promote respiratory droplet transmission and disease in mammals.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Carsten Kirkeby, Michael P. Ward
Summary: Avian influenza is becoming a growing problem in Europe and worldwide. Simulation models are useful tools for predicting the risk of avian influenza spread and evaluating control measures. Estimates of transmission parameters vary widely based on virus type, pathogenicity, species, study type, and poultry flock unit.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
