The First Specific Detection of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Ivory Coast

Abstract

The Virology Laboratory of the Central Laboratory of Animal Diseases in Ivory Coast at Bingerville received samples of wild and domestic avian species between February and December 2006. An RT-PCR technique was used to test for avian influenza (AI) and highly pathogenic AI subtype viruses. Among 2125 samples, 16 were type A positive; of which, 12 were later confirmed to be H5N1. Fifteen of these 16 type A positive samples were inoculated into the chorioallantoic cavity of 11-day-old embryonated hens' eggs for virus isolation. Eight produced virus with hemagglutination titres from 1/64 to 1/512. The 4/16 M-RT-PCR positive samples, which were H5N1 negative, were shown to be H7 subtype negative. The diagnostic efficiency of the laboratory for the surveillance of H5N1 in Ivory Coast was demonstrated. The positive cases of H5N1 were from a sparrowhawk (Accipter nisus); live market poultry and in free-range poultry, where the mortality rate was approximately 20% (2/10) and 96.7% (29/30) respectively. Currently, investigations into intensive poultry farms have proved negative for H5N1. No human cases have been reported this time.

Surveillance for Influenza Viruses in Poultry and Swine, West Africa, 2006–2008

“…The latter were preferred to commercial farms because the outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1) reported during 2006–2008 occurred most often in backyard flocks (for 11/12, 4/5, and 2/3 outbreaks in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo, respectively) or on small farms (308–7,771 birds per farm) ( 13 , 14 ). Sampling sites were selected in the 3 countries for 1) their density of poultry farms (backyard and commercial, even though we focused on the backyard sector, as in the district of Abidjan and in the Middle-Comoé region in Côte d’Ivoire; Lokossa in Benin; Lomé and the Maritime Province in Togo), 2) the presence of water bodies and the possible contact of domestic birds with wild waterfowl (South-Comoé in Côte d’Ivoire; Malanville in Benin); and 3) their past outbreaks of HPAI (H5N1) (district of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire; Lomé and the Maritime Province in Togo).…”

“…These 3 West African countries reported cases of HPAI (H5N1) only in 2006, 2007, or 2008 ( 13 , 14 ). We aimed to confirm the current absence of HPAI (H5N1) from the region and determine whether any other influenza virus strains might circulate in domestic birds and pigs.…”

Pathogenicity of an H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Isolated in the 2010–2011 Winter in Japan to Mandarin Ducks

“…3). Therefore, dead mandarin ducks probably act as a source of infection to birds of prey and carnivores (e.g., Falconiformes [1,12,19] and raccoons [2]), which occasionally eat carrion.…”

Identification of risk factors associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infection in poultry farms, in Nigeria during the epidemic of 2006–2007

“…In Africa, despite reports on the genetic/biological constituents/properties of HPAI H5N1 viruses of African origin (Ducatez et al, 2006(Ducatez et al, , 2007Njouom et al, 2008;Couacy-Hymann et al, 2008;Cattoli et al, 2009;Fasina et al, 2009), the epidemiologic aspects of HPAI H5N1 virus infection in poultry have not been investigated. Although previous studies have provided an epidemiologic framework for investigation of risk factors for HPAI H5N1 virus in poultry (Henzler et al, 2003;Thomas et al, 2005;Bouma et al, 2009;Busani et al, 2009), study findings and proposed prevention strategies may not apply to the conditions of Nigeria in view of variations in climatic conditions, poultry practices, and the socioeconomic and cultural orientations of agricultural populations in this geographic region.…”