Semi-Scavenging Poultry as Carriers of Avian Influenza Genes
A T M Badruzzaman,
Md. Masudur Rahman,
Mahmudul Hasan,
Mohammed Kawser Hossain,
Asmaul Husna,
Ferdaus Mohd Altaf Hossain,
Mohammed Giasuddin,
Md Jamal Uddin,
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam,
Jahangir Alam,
Seong-Kug Eo,
Folorunso Oludayo Fasina,
Hossam M. Ashour
Affiliations
A T M Badruzzaman
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Md. Masudur Rahman
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Mahmudul Hasan
National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1340, Bangladesh
Mohammed Kawser Hossain
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Asmaul Husna
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Ferdaus Mohd Altaf Hossain
Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Mohammed Giasuddin
National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka 1340, Bangladesh
Md Jamal Uddin
ABEx Bio-Research Center, East Azampur, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam
Livestock Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Farmgate, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh
Jahangir Alam
Animal Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Savar, Dhaka 1349, Bangladesh
Seong-Kug Eo
College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Korea
Folorunso Oludayo Fasina
Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (ECTAD-FAO), United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON), UN Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Hossam M. Ashour
Department of Integrative Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
Ducks are the natural reservoir of influenza A virus and the central host for the avian influenza virus (AIV) subtype H5N1, which is highly pathogenic. Semi-scavenging domestic ducks allow for the reemergence of new influenza subtypes which could be transmitted to humans. We collected 844 cloacal swabs from semi-scavenging ducks inhabiting seven migratory bird sanctuaries of Bangladesh for the molecular detection of avian influenza genes. We detected the matrix gene (M gene) using real-time RT–PCR (RT–qPCR). Subtyping of the AIV-positive samples was performed by RT–qPCR specific for H5, H7, and H9 genes. Out of 844 samples, 21 (2.488%) were positive for AIV. Subtyping of AIV positive samples (n = 21) revealed that nine samples (42.85%) were positive for the H9 subtype, five (23.80%) were positive for H5, and seven (33.33%) were negative for the three genes (H5, H7, and H9). We detected the same genes after propagating the virus in embryonated chicken eggs from positive samples. Semi-scavenging ducks could act as carriers of pathogenic AIV, including the less pathogenic H9 subtype. This can enhance the pathogenicity of the virus in ducks by reassortment. The large dataset presented in our study from seven areas should trigger further studies on AIV prevalence and ecology.
