Abstract
BackgroundIn spite of efforts to control avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) over decades, circulation of the viral causative agents among domestic and feral birds is considered implicated factors for the intermittent outbreaks of AI and ND among domesticated birds as well as commercial poultry flocks in Nigeria. In this study, sera from domestic (Japanese quails) and peri-domestic birds including laughing dove and village weavers were screened for antibodies to low pathogenic AI virus (LPAIV) and ND virus (NDV).MethodsA competitive ELISA was used to detect anti-AI virus antibodies in the sera of 101 unvaccinated Japanese quails, 30 village weavers and one laughing dove caught for human consumption in Oyo and Osun states, Nigeria. Hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies against LPAIV were then detected in the ELISA-positive sera using H3N8, H5N2 and H9N7 subtype-specific antigens. Also, antibodies to NDV were detected and quantified in the sera using HI test.ResultsSeroprevalence of NDV antibodies from tested quail sera was 12.9% (13/101), while AI was 18.8% (19/101) with detection of anti-LPAIV H3N8, H5N2 and H9N7 antibodies. The laughing dove serum was positive for NDV and anti-LPAIV H9N7 antibodies while all sera from village weavers had no detectable LPAIV antibodies, but 26.7% (8/30) were positive for NDV antibodies.ConclusionsThis study provides serologic evidence of infection with LPAIV H3N8, H5N2 and H9N7 as well as Newcastle disease in domestic and peri-domestic birds in southwest Nigeria and highlights the potential role of these birds in the epidemiology of AI and ND.
Highlights
In spite of efforts to control avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) over decades, circulation of the viral causative agents among domestic and feral birds is considered implicated factors for the intermittent outbreaks of AI and ND among domesticated birds as well as commercial poultry flocks in Nigeria
Sample collection Blood samples collected via the jugular vein were randomly obtained from apparently healthy, unvaccinated 132 birds comprising of 101 Japanese quails from ten flocks in Osun state, as well as 30 village weavers from a live-bird market and one laughing dove caught for human consumption in Oyo state, Nigeria
The laughing dove serum was positive for only anti-low pathogenic AI virus (LPAIV) H9N7 antibodies while all sera from village weavers had no detectable LPAIV antibodies
Summary
In spite of efforts to control avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) over decades, circulation of the viral causative agents among domestic and feral birds is considered implicated factors for the intermittent outbreaks of AI and ND among domesticated birds as well as commercial poultry flocks in Nigeria. Avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) are viral and often fatal diseases that affect a wide range of avian hosts, irrespective of age They have been a cause of great set back in poultry productions throughout the world as they cause considerable financial losses with resultant illness in affected flocks, and for other avian species, mammals and human beings Exposures to NDV mostly in laboratory workers and vaccination crews have been shown to cause mainly conjunctivitis (Munir et al 2012)
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