Surveillance for avian influenza viruses in wild birds at live bird markets, Egypt, 2014-2016.

Ahmed S Kayed,Richard J Webby,Basma Sheta,Sara Mahmoud,Nabil Hegazi,Mokhtar R Gomaa,Pamela P Mckenzie,Mohamed Fayez,Rabeh El‐Shesheny,Ahmed Kandeil,Ghazi Kayali,Mohamed A Ali

doi:10.1111/irv.12634

Abstract

AimEgypt is the habitat for a large number of bird species and serves as a vital stopover for millions of migratory birds during their annual migration between the Palearctic and Afrotropical ecozones. Surveillance for avian influenza viruses (AIVs) is critical to assessing risks for potential spreading of these viruses among domestic poultry. Surveillance for AIV among hunted and captured wild birds in Egypt was conducted in order to understand the characteristics of circulating viruses.MethodsSampling of wild bird species occurred in two locations along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt in the period from 2014 to 2016. A total of 1316 samples (cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs) were collected from 20 different species of hunted or captured resident and migratory birds sold at live bird markets. Viruses were propagated then sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis and receptor binding affinities were studied.ResultsEighteen AIVs (1.37%) were isolated from migratory Anseriformes at live bird markets. Further characterization of the viral isolates identified five hemagglutinin (H3, H5, H7, H9, and H10) and five neuraminidase (N1, N2, N3, N6, and N9) subtypes, which were related to isolates reported in the Eurasian region. Two of the 18 isolates were highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses related to clade 2.2.1, while three isolates were G1‐like H9N2 viruses.ConclusionsOur data show significant diversity of AIVs in Anserifromes sold at live bird markets in Egypt. This allows for genetic exchanges between imported and enzootic viruses and put the exposed humans at a higher risk of infection.

Highlights

Wild birds, waterfowl, are the natural reservoir of many subtypes of influenza A viruses and play an important role in the evolution and spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV).[1]
Studying the ecology and evolution of AIVs in wild aquatic birds is key to elucidate their role in virus dissemination among different hosts in different geographic regions
Egypt, where H5 and H9 viruses are enzootic in domestic poultry, acts as a stopover for millions of wild aquatic birds during autumn and spring migration seasons annually providing excellent grounds for reassortment events between AIVs

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

Waterfowl, are the natural reservoir of many subtypes of influenza A viruses and play an important role in the evolution and spread of avian influenza viruses (AIV).[1] Birds of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes are thought to be the most common reservoirs of subtypes H1‐H16 of influenza A viruses.[2] AIVs are classified into highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). Even though surveillance of wild birds for AIVs has increased substantially worldwide in the last years, few studies have been conducted in Egypt.[14,15] Here, we conducted active surveillance of AIVs in resident and migratory wild birds either hunted or captured to be sold at live bird markets in Egypt from 2014 to 2016

| MATERIAL AND METHODS

Findings

| DISCUSSION