Predominance and geo-mapping of avian influenza H5N1 in poultry sectors in Egypt

Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the H5N1 subtype has been enzootic in the Egyptian poultry with significant human infections since 2008. This work evaluates the epidemiological and virological information from February 2006 to May 2015 in spatial and temporal terms. Only data with confirmed HPAI H5N1 sub-type were collected, and matched with the epidemiological data from various spatially and temporally-dispersed surveillances implemented between 2006 and 2015. Spatio-temporal analysis was conducted on a total of 3338 confirmed H5N1 HPAI poultry disease outbreaks and outputs described based on transmission patterns, poultry species, production types affected, trade, geographic and temporal distributions in Egypt. The H5N1 virus persists in the Egyptian poultry displaying a seasonal pattern with peak prevalence between January and March. There was no specific geographic pattern, but chickens and ducks were more affected. However, relatively higher disease incidences were recorded in the Nile Delta. Phylogenetic studies of the haemagglutinin gene sequences of H5N1 viruses indicated that multiple clusters circulated between 2006 and 2015, with significant deviations in circulation. Epidemiological dynamics of HPAI has changed with the origins of majority of outbreaks shifted to household poultry. The persistence of HPAI H5N1 in poultry with recurrent and sporadic infections in humans can influence virus evolution spatio-temporally. Household poultry plays significant roles in the H5N1 virus transmission to poultry and humans, but the role of commercial poultry needs further clarifications. While poultry trading supports the persistence and transmission of H5N1, the role of individual species may warrant further investigation. Surveillance activities, applying a multi-sectoral approach, are recommended.

Public health concerns of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 endemicity in Africa

“…Furthermore, increasing the standards of cleanliness as well as containment when applied reduces or prevent the risk of introducing disease into a flock and hence mortality [67,[77][78][79][80][81]. A recent study conducted by Arafa et al [82] and Arafa et al [83] showed that epidemiological dynamics of HPAI has changed with the origins of majority of outbreaks. This points toward household poultry, and it is associated with human cases of H5N1 infections.…”

Epidemiological Study on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus with Modeling the Impact of Climate Variability on Outbreak Occurrence in Some Governorates of Nile Delta, Egypt.

“…In commercial farms and backyards, the incidence of HPAI H5N1 virus in Lower Egypt was higher than that in Upper Egypt (Aly et al, 2008. The higher incidence rate of disease was observed in the Nile Delta region where there are high densities of poultry and human populations (Arafa et al, 2016, El-Zoghby et al, 2013.…”

“…This study was carried out in five Nile Delta governorates (Sharkia, Qalyobia, Menofia, and Gharbia) of Egypt as highlighted in figure 2, where the higher numbers of disease outbreaks were reported (Arafa et al, 2016). In addition, these regions are considered as leading poultry producing governorates in Egypt (ElMasry et al, 2017).…”

Peer Review #4 of "Molecular identification of avian influenza virus subtypes H5N1 and H9N2 in birds from farms and live bird markets and in respiratory patients (v0.1)"

“…Another study reported the confirmation of H5N1 from quails on farms (0.2%) and in LBMs (0.8%) (Arafa et al 2016b). Quails have been reported to be an important mixing vessel for AIVs due to the expression of receptors for mammalian and avian AIVs on their epithelial cell surfaces (Nguyen et al 2016;Thontiravong et al 2012).…”