AVIAN INFLUENZA

History
1878:

First identified case in Italy

1924-25:
First

First U.S. cases

zoonotic case:
The present wave of Highly Pathogenic
Avian Influenza (HPAI) emerged in
Hong Kong in 1997.

Outbreaks of disease
India experienced the first Avian
Influenza (H5N1) outbreak in the State
of Maharashtra and Gujarat on 18th
February, 2006
Recently
On May 12, 2016, detection of the avian

Influenza Virus
Family

Orthomyxoviridae

myxo means mucus

Three

main types

Type A
Multiple species

Type B
Humans

Type C
Humans and swine

Influenza A
Multiple

species

Humans, pigs, horses, birds, others

Most

virulent group
Classification by surface antigens
into subtypes
Hemagglutinin (H or HA)
Neuraminidase (N or NA)

Influenza A

Influenza A

Avian Influenza
(Bird

flu, Fowl Plague)

It

is infectious disease of domestic

and wild birds.

Etiology:

influenza type A virus

Severity

of disease in poultry

Low pathogenic AI (LPAI)

Highly pathogenic AI (HPAI)

Transmission
Through

contact
Spread by aerosol, shared
drinking water, fomites
Virus in respiratory
secretions and faeces
Virus present in eggs but
eggs unlikely to survive and
hatch

 Source of infection:
wild birds,
Other poultry, migratory waterfowl,
domestic pigs, pet birds,
dead and infected birds.

Interspecies Transmission of
Influenza A Viruses

Clinical signs
HPAI

acute decline in egg production

Rapidly

ascending mortality with respiratory

and nervous signs

Flock

morbidity is apparent, mortality

variable
Odema of face and head is seen
LPAI

-low morbidity and mortality, decline in

egg production, secondary respiratory
infection

Incubation

period: 3-14 days

Birds found dead
Drop in egg production
Neurological signs
Depression, anorexia,
ruffled feathers
Combs swollen, cyanotic
Conjunctivitis and
Respiratory signs

HPAI : Clinical Signs

Pathogenesis
Inhalation

or ingestion of infectious LP or HP

virions

Replicate

in respiratory and intestinal tracts

and release virions

Nasal

cavity is major site of initial

replication

Invades

submucosa, enter capillaries,

replicate in endothelial cells, spread via
vascular or lymphatic system to infect
visceral organs, brain and skin

Damage

due to direct virus replication in

cells, indirect effects from production of
ischemia from vascular thrombosis

LP

: virus replication is limited to

respiratory or intestinal tracts

Death

is due to respiratory damage and

secondary bacterial infections

Postmortem Lesions
Lesions

may be absent with sudden death

Subcutaneous
Vesicles
Severe

hemorrhages

on comb and wattles

congestion of the musculature

Dehydration
Subcutaneous

edema
of head and neck area

Postmortem Lesions
Nasal

and oral cavity

discharges

Petechiae

on
serosal surfaces

Kidneys

severely
congested

Severe

congestion of the
conjunctiva

Hemorrhages

on mucosa and
lymphoid structure of intestinal and
respiratory tracts

LPAI results in tracheitis, pulmonary

edema
Secondary

bacterial infection occurs,

airsacculitis is observed

HPAI : Postmortem Lesions

Diagnosis
History
Clinical

signs:

Sudden death
Drop in egg production
Facial edema, cyanotic combs and wattles
Petechial hemorrhages

Virology

and serology necessary for

definitive diagnosis

It is usually diagnosed by virus isolation(tracheal

& cloacal swabs.
Specific pathogen free chick embryos(10-11
days)
Avian cell tissue culture systems
Serum virus neutralization test, FAT, PCR etc..
Presence

of virus confirmed by

ELISA
RT-PCR
HA & HI
In

Serology, presence of AI specific

antibodies may be detected at seven days
after infection, by double immunodiffusion
test and ELISA

Differential Diagnosis
MD
Infectious

laryngotracheitis
Infectious bronchitis
Acute bacterial diseases
Fowl cholera, E. coli infection

Treatment
No

specific treatment
Supportive care and antibiotics for
secondary infections
Antivirals (amantadine) effective in
reducing mortality
Not approved in food animals
Results in resistant viruses

Prevention & controll

Always

keep chickens roofed in so that they

do not come in contact with wild or migratory
birds
Do not let chickens mix with other bird species
such as ducks,turkey.
Suspect bird flu if chickens suddenly fall sick
and start dying rapidly
Immediately inform the concerned local
authorities and the animal husbandry
department.
If bird flu is confirmed: cooperate with the local
authorities in culling of chickens
Protect yourself and all workers in poultry
farms by covering the nose and mouth with a

 Do not allow any chickens or eggs to be taken out

from poultry
Farm, destroy all eggs.
Do not carry chickens from an infected poultry farm to
your home for cooking
Disinfect boots or shoes before entering or leaving a
poultry farm
Keep children away from chickens
Dead chickens should be disposed off safely
Wash your hands properly if you come in contact with
sick or dying chickens, or with objects that may have
been contaminated by the birds, such as soil, cages,
eggs.