Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus is endemic in Indonesia and Vietnam, where “moving” duck production is commonly practiced. Questionnaire surveys were conducted with transporters of “moving” duck flocks in Indonesia (N = 55) and Vietnam (N = 43). The main purpose of transportation was to transport duck flocks between rice paddies used for scavenging. Trucks were commonly utilized for transport in both countries (Indonesia: 98.2%, 54/55; Vietnam: 37.2%, 16/43), while boats were only used in Vietnam (62.8%, 27/43). Transporters in Vietnam moved larger flocks and traveled over longer distances. Deaths of ducks due to diseases were reported in both countries (Indonesia: 16.4%, 9/55; Vietnam: 4.7%, 2/43; p = 0.11). Throwing away of carcasses was the primary method of disposal of dead birds in Indonesia (60.0%, 33/55), but was not practiced in Vietnam (p < 0.001), while more transporters in Vietnam (34.9%, 15/43) buried carcasses compared to Indonesia (6.8%, 4/55; p = 0.001). Consumption of carcasses (20.9%, 9/43), sale of dead ducks (14.0%, 6/43) and processing of ducks for fish feed (9.3%, 4/43) was conducted in Vietnam, but not in Indonesia. Vehicles were predominantly cleaned in rivers and stored outside in Vietnam, while cleaning and storage was usually conducted in houses/garages in Indonesia. In conclusion, we identified management practices that potentially impact transmission of avian pathogens, such as HPAI virus. In Indonesia, unsafe management practices were related to multipurpose usage of transport vehicles and disposal of birds in the environment, while in Vietnam, they were related to the mixing of birds during transport, the processing of dead carcasses and the storage and cleaning of transport vehicles.
Highlights
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is endemic in Vietnam and Indonesia and has caused substantial human and poultry losses [1, 2]
The objectives of this study were to [1] identify management factors during transport of moving duck flocks in Indonesia and Vietnam that could potentially be associated with an increased risk of avian pathogen dissemination (e.g., Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus), and to [2] compare and contrast differences in movement, management and biosecurity practices implemented by duck flock transporters in Indonesia and Vietnam
Not statistically significant, transporting of ducks to markets was less common in Indonesia (Indonesia: 9.3%, 4/43; Vietnam: 16.4%, 9/55; p = 0.38), while transport of ducklings to and from hatcheries was more common in Indonesia
Summary
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is endemic in Vietnam and Indonesia and has caused substantial human and poultry losses [1, 2]. Vietnam has experienced 64 deaths out of 127 human cases, representing a case fatality rate of 50.4% [3]. From 2004 to 2019, 22.5 and 20.0% of the global HPAI outbreaks in poultry occurred in Indonesia and Vietnam, respectively [4]. Since 2003, more than 150 million domestic birds died or were culled as a result of H5N1 outbreaks in Indonesia [5, 6], while in Vietnam more than 52 million poultry losses occurred since 2003, with 86.5% of the domestic poultry population being culled in 2003-04 alone at an estimated cost of about US$205 million [7]
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