Seroprevalence of Avian Influenza H9N2 Virus in Backyard Poultry of District Zhob Pakistan
Seroprevalence of Avian Influenza H9N2 Virus in Backyard Poultry of District Zhob Pakistan
Mirwaise Khan1, Rubab Maqsood1, Hamad Bin Rashid2, Shakera Sadiq Gill1, Muhammad Noman1, Rafia Akram1, Muhammad Sajid Hasni1, Haroon Rashid3 and Mamoona Chaudhry1*
ABSTRACT
Influenza is a frequently encountered acute and contagious disease of poultry and humans, caused by RNA virus of Orthomyxoviridae family. An epidemiological survey was conducted in 29 villages of District Zhob, Balochistan province of Pakistan, between December 2016 and February 2017. A total of 240 blood samples from backyard chickens were collected and were tested for antibodies against Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) (H9N2) by hemagglutination inhibition test according to OIE. It was found that out of 240 collected blood samples, 140 (58.3%; 95% CI: 50.43-69.60) were positive for AIV (H9N2). The findings of the present study indicated that AIV (H9N2) were endemic and widely distributed in backyard poultry in different areas of District Zhob, which is continuous threat for free range poultry and other avian species there. Further studies are needed to identify the circulating virus genotypes, associated risk factors and required control measures.
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