Surveillance of Avian influenza Viruses in Wild Ducks and Geese in the Bangweulu Wetlands of Zambia
Keywords:
Avian influenza, Environment, Wetlands, Faecal Samples, Avian Influenza virus, Surveillance, Migratory Birds
Abstract
Avian influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of avian origin and is of major economic and public health importance. Out of all the 16 haemagglutinin subtypes of influenza viruses, only H5 and H7 are considered highly pathogenic in poultry. However, previous studies have reported that serotype H9N2 produces severe respiratory and reproductive tract infections in chickens. Previous studies have suggested that poultry movement through trade and migratory wild birds play a major role in the spread of avian influenza viruses over long distances. Surveillance studies among wild ducks and geese in many parts of the world has always resulted in isolation of a broad spectrum of avian influenza virus subtypes. Although avian influenza has not yet been reported in Zambia, its outbreak would be devastating to the local economy. The present study was carried out to determine the presence of avian influenza viruses in the wild migratory ducks and geese on the Bangweulu wetlands of Zambia located in Luapula and Northern provinces of Zambia during 2009-2010. A total of 2,000 environmental samples of fresh faeces of wild ducks and geese on the Bangweulu wetlands of Zambia were examined and analysed for the presence of avian influenza viruses. The study found that H6N2 and H9N2 subtypes were present in the faeces of the Knob-billed ducks (Sarkidiornis melanotos). These data indicated that wild migratory ducks that inhabit the Bangweulu wetlands play a role as carriers of influenza viruses, thus necessitating continued surveillance studies so as to elucidate the ecology of the viruses in the areaReferences
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9. Lin YP, Shaw M, Gregory V, Cameron K, Lim W, Klimov A, Subbarao K, Guan Y, Krauss S, Shortridge K, Webster R, Cox N, and Hay A. Avian-to-human transmission of H9N2 subtype influenza Aviruses: Relationship between H9N2 and H5N1 human isolates. PINAS. 2000; 97: 9654-9658.
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11. Naeem K, Ullah A, Manvell RJ and Alexander DJ. Avian influenza Asubtype H9N2 in poultry in Pakistan. Vet. Rec. 1999; 145: 560-561.
12. Olsen B, Munster VJ, Wallensten A, Waldenstrom J, Osterhaus AD, and Fouchier RA. Global patterns of influenza Avirus in wild birds. Science. 2006; 312: 384-388.
13. Olsen CW, Karasin A, and Erickson G. Characterisation of swine-like reassortant H1N2 influenza virus isolated from a wild duck in the United States. Virus Res. 2003; 93: 115-121.
14. Smitka CW,and Maassab HF.Ortho-and Paramyxoviruses in the migratory waterfowl of Michigan. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 1981; 17: 147-150.
15. Simulundu E, Mweene AS, Tomabechi D, Hang'ombe BM, Ishii A, Suzuki Y, Nakamura I, Sawa H, Sugimoto C, Ito K, Kida H, Saiwana L, and Takada A. 2009. Characterization of H3N6 avian influenza virus isolated from a wild white Pelican in Zambia. Arch Virol. 2009; 154: 1517-1522.
16. Sinclair, I., Hockey, P, and Tarboton, W. 1997. Birds of southern Africa, the region'smostcomprehensivelyndillustratedguide.2Edition,Struik,Capetown.:Cornelis Struik House., 76 - 85.
17. Suss J, Schafer J, Sinnecker H, and Webster RG. Influenza virus subtypes in aquatic birds of eastern Germany. Arch Virol. 1994; 135: 101-114.
18. World Health Organisation (WHO). Avian influenza (bird flu) – Fact Sheet 2008: 1-5.
19. World Health Organisation (WHO). Manual on animal influenza diagnosis and surveillance 2002: 15- 44.
Published
2012-03-31
How to Cite
1.
Phiri B, Mweene A, Muma J, Moonga L, Hang’ombe B. Surveillance of Avian influenza Viruses in Wild Ducks and Geese in the Bangweulu Wetlands of Zambia. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 31Mar.2012 [cited 1Aug.2025];1(1):16-0. Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/338
Section
Veterinary Medicine
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