Sero-prevalence of Avian Influenza in Animals and Human in Egypt

Abstract

In opposite to most countries, avian influenza virus H5N1 became endemic in Egypt. Since, its first emerge in 2006 in Egypt, the virus could infect different species of birds and animals and even human. Beside the great economic losses to the local poultry industry in Egypt, the virus infected 166 confirmed human cases, 59 cases ended fatally. In the present study, the persistence of the avian influenza in the Egyptian environment was studied. For this purpose, serum samples were collected from human, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goat, horses, donkeys, swine, sewage rats, stray dogs and stray cats. The sera were collected from Cairo and the surrounding governorates to be examined for the presence of anti-H5N1 antibodies by Haemagglutination Inhibition Test (HI) and ELISA test. Clear differences in the seroprevalence were noticed among different species and also between the results obtained by both techniques indicating the difference in test accuracy. The present data indicate wide spread of the H5N1 virus in the Egyptian environment.

Epidemiology, ecology and gene pool of influenza A virus in Egypt: Will Egypt be the epicentre of the next influenza pandemic?

“…124 In another independent study, antibodies against H5N1 were detected in 23.8% (38/160) and 30.6% (11/36) of the tested horses and donkeys, respectively. 99 The equine isolate possessed viral genes that were closely related to other Egyptian avian HPAIV H5N1 indicating a common origin of these viruses. It had Q226 and G228 in the HA protein which are typical for avian and equine viruses but not for human ones.…”

“…93 More recently, 4.3% (4/93) of tested pigs sera were found positive to H5N1. 99 The two independent studies showed higher rates of H5N1 infection of pigs in Egypt than those recorded in China and Vietnam 100,101 that possess a very high number of pigs in comparison to Egypt. These findings raised an alarm on the potential role that might be played by pigs in the epidemiology and evolution of H5N1 virus in Egypt.…”

“…99 Of those samples, about 28% (7/25) of cats and 12% (3/25) of dogs were found to have anti-H5 antibodies. Meanwhile no evidence for virus infections in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats was reported until now.…”

“…Meanwhile no evidence for virus infections in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats was reported until now. 30,99 It is worth pointing out that the application of traditional serological tests (i.e.,: HI and ELISA) in different animal species particularly pigs, donkeys, cats and dogs has not be extensively validated for application in these species. Therefore, it is important to conduct surveillance based on virus isolation to avoid misinterpretation or overestimation of the biological role, if any, of these animals in the spread of the virus in Egypt.…”

“…Unexpectedly, 12% of Cairo residents investigated in that surveillance were positive while 8.4% of the farmers in the country side were found to be infected. 99 These findings might be explained by inadequate surveillance procedures.…”