AVIAN INFLUENZA

HISTORY
1878 --- Fowl plague was firstly described
as a serious disease of chickens in
Italy.
1901 --- Caused by a filterable agent (virus)
1950-60 --- Fowl plague virus was identified
as Influenza A virus.
1994 --- Firstly reported in Pakistan.
 DEFINATION
 Avian Influenza (AI) is a contagious viral
infection which can affect all species of birds
caused by any type A influenza virus.
 Infection among domestic or confined birds
is associated with a variety of disease
syndromes:
Subclinical
Mild upper respiratory disease
Reproductive failure (Loss of egg production)
Severe acute highly fatal generalized disease.
 ETIOLOGY
Family: Orthomyxoviridae
 Three main types
 Type A (Most virulent group)
 Multiple species ( Birds & Humans)
 Type B ( Common & less virulent than A)
 Humans
 Type C (Different pattern of surface proteins)
 Humans and swine
 Not common
Characteristics:
• RNA & enveloped virus
• Inactivated by--- heat, extremes of pH,
dryness, formalin, dilute
acids & lipid solvents e.g.
detergents.
• Viruses are released in nasal secretions & faeces
 CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUS
 Strain classification is based on surface
antigens i.e, hemagglutinin (HA) &
neuraminidase (NA) subtypes
 15 HAs & 9 NAs are reported & they are
present in various combinations in avian
isolates (H5N1, H8N4)
 Frequency of antigenic variation is high
 It occurs in 2 ways:
• Drift --- minor antigenic changes in HA and/or NA
• Shift --- major antigenic changes in HA and/or NA
BIRD FLU VIRUS
 TRANSMISSION
Virus is secreted from
• Respiratory system
• Conjunctiva
• Faeces
Horizontal:

• Direct contact between infected & susceptible birds

(migratory waterfowl, pet birds)
• Ducks are most impt. reservoir, same bird can
harbour 2 or more strains
• Virus contaminated formites
• Aerosol
• Faecal contamination of feed & water
TRANSMISSION
 Free-living birds may carry influenza
viruses without becoming ill due to a
natural resistance. It is known that wild
waterfowl present a natural reservoir for
these viruses and can be responsible for
the primary introduction of infection
into domestic poultry.
 Vertical:
No evidence
 CLINICAL SIGNS
• Extremely variable
• Pronounced depression &  feed consumption
• Huddling and ruffled feathers
•  broodiness of hens &  egg production
• Mild to severe respiratory sign: coughing, sneezing, rales &
excessive lacrimation
• Subcutaneous edema of head & face which may extend to neck
and breast
• Cyanosis of wattles, comb & unfeathered skin
• Areas of diffuse hemorrhage on shanks
• Nervous disorders i.e, convulsions, ataxia
• Mucoid Diarrhoea (white)
ANY OF THESE SIGN MAY OCCUR SINGLY OR IN VARIOUS
COMBINATIONS
 PATHOGENESIS
 Virus replicates in intestinal tact and lungs
 Virus adsorbs to glycoprotein receptors on the
cell surface
 Enters the cell by receptor-mediated endolysis
 Nucleocapsid enters the cytoplasm & migrates
to nucleus
 Production & assembly of viral protein and RNA
 Budding from the plasma membrane
 POSTMORTEM LESIONS
 Variable; Lesions may be absent with
sudden death
 Edema of head, neck & swollen sinuses
 Cyanotic, congested & haemorrhagic wattles &
combs
 Congestion & haemorrhages on shanks
 Severe congestion of the musculature and
conjuctiva
 Hemorrhagic tracheitis
 Airsaculitis: Airsacs thickened & having fibrinous or
caseous exudate
 Egg yolk peritonitis in laying hens
 Severely congested kidneys
 Necrotic foci in liver, spleen, kidneys & lungs
DIAGNOSIS
 Isolation & identification of causative agent
from Trachea & Cloaca
 Serological identification
 HI test
 Double immunodiffusion
 Virus neutralization
 ELISA
RT-PCR
Differential diagnosis
 ND (Clinically indistinguishable from virulent
Newcastle Disease)
 Mycoplasma
CONTROL
 Proper biosecurity measures
 Wild birds control (WATER BIRDS)
 Movement of people & equipment should be
controlled
 Vaccination: It is not practical to vaccinate
against all possible serotypes, on the other
hand if some serotype involving an outbreak
is identified, vaccination may be a useful tool.
 Traditional killed vaccines
are effective
 Vaccines will protect only against other avian
influenza viruses with
the same hemagglutinin (H) type.
 PUBLIC HEALTH RELATIONSHIP
The influenza viruses of birds can replicate in
mammals & cause illness.

The first known case of

influenza type A (H5 N1)
occurred in 3 year child in 1997
in Hong Kong.
Risk is low
Strains vary in ability to infect humans
High occupational exposure may increase risk
 Mutate frequently
 Antigenic drift
 Point mutations accumulated during
virus replication
 Antigenic shift
 Hybrid virus emerges when cell infected
with two different influenza viruses
 Human, avian, swine, equine

 Transfer of influenza virus to a

different species
Human transmission
 1997, Hong Kong
 18 humans infected, 6 died
 H5N1 virus linked to outbreak in live
bird market and area farms
 2003, the Netherlands
 83 confirmed cases in humans, 1 death
 H7N7 strain 2004-2005, SE Asia
 118 cases, 61 deaths
 Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia
 H5N1 strain
 Within the vicinity of poultry outbreaks
 Evidence for human-to-human transmission
 Role of swine
DULL & DEPRESSED BIRDS
FACIAL EDEMA & RESPIRATORY
DISTRESS
FACIAL SWELLING
CYANOSIS
CYANOSIS
CYANOSIS
NERVOUS SIGNS
MUCOID DIARRHOEA
SUBCUTANEOUS HAEMORRHAGE
OF SHANKS
HAEMORRHAGIC TRACHEITIS
HAEMORRHAGES