Avian Influenza

What, Where, When

Anthony Pescatore

Department of Animal Sciences

University of Kentucky

Avian Influenza in the USis NOT the same Virus as“Bird” Flu in Asia (H5N1)

Avian InfluenzaAvian InfluenzaNomenclatureNomenclature

Birds: Influenza A type virusBirds: Influenza A type virus

Influenza A is divided into Influenza A is divided into Subtypes based on their surface Subtypes based on their surface proteins:proteins:

Hemagglutinin (HA): 16 subtypes Hemagglutinin (HA): 16 subtypes

Neuraminidase (NA): 9 subtypesNeuraminidase (NA): 9 subtypes

H5N1-Hemagglutinin subtype 5H5N1-Hemagglutinin subtype 5

Neuraminidase subtype 1Neuraminidase subtype 1

Influenzavirus AInfluenzavirus A

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DomesticPoultryShorebirdsDucksEquineSwine

Mammalia Aves

Host of Origin

H1H2H3

H4/6H5H7H8H9

H10/11H12H13H14H15

HumanHA

Subtype

Poultry FAD 2005

Characteristics of AI in BirdsCharacteristics of AI in Birds

Shore and Water Fowl act as HostsShore and Water Fowl act as Hosts Ability to get disease vary for Ability to get disease vary for

speciesspecies Birds shed virus in saliva, nasal Birds shed virus in saliva, nasal

discharge and fecesdischarge and feces Spread by contact with discharge or Spread by contact with discharge or

fecesfeces Fecal-to-oral transmission most Fecal-to-oral transmission most

likelylikely

Transmission & Host Adaptation Transmission & Host Adaptation of Influenza A Virusesof Influenza A Viruses

Most Common: Intraspecies, e.g. human-to- Most Common: Intraspecies, e.g. human-to- human, pig-to-pig, chicken- to-chicken, etc.human, pig-to-pig, chicken- to-chicken, etc.

Occasional: Interspecies & intraclass, e.g. pig-Occasional: Interspecies & intraclass, e.g. pig-to- human, wild-mallard-to-domestic turkey, to- human, wild-mallard-to-domestic turkey, etc.etc.

Recently, but rarely: Interspecies & interclass, Recently, but rarely: Interspecies & interclass, e.g. bird-to-human, bird-to-pig, etc.e.g. bird-to-human, bird-to-pig, etc.

Conclusion: Influenza viruses express host Conclusion: Influenza viruses express host adaptation to various levelsadaptation to various levels Poultry FAD 2005

Countries affected by H5N1 in AsiaAs of October 29, 2005

China

Cambodia

Russia

Japan

Korea

Laos

Thailand

Vietnam

Malaysia

Kazakhstan

Indonesia

What is Different in AsiaWhat is Different in Asia

Higher degree of bird and human Higher degree of bird and human contactcontact

Village fowlVillage fowl City situation overcrowded: birds City situation overcrowded: birds

and people live togetherand people live together Live bird markets Live bird markets Fighting Cocks major activityFighting Cocks major activity More small flocks and manual More small flocks and manual

laborlabor

U. S. CONCERNS - HUMAN

4 Billion appropriated from defense budget

Vaccine studies in Asia

Naive population

117 cases confirmed human infections in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia with a 51% mortality rate

United States SituationUnited States Situation

The US is concerned with keeping the “Bird The US is concerned with keeping the “Bird Flu” out through embargoesFlu” out through embargoes

The US problem is a different strain and The US problem is a different strain and concern is bird related not a human concernconcern is bird related not a human concern

Low path (LPAI) vs. High path (HPAI) refers Low path (LPAI) vs. High path (HPAI) refers to how to dangerous the virus is to poultryto how to dangerous the virus is to poultry

LPAI is present in NY/NJ live marketsLPAI is present in NY/NJ live markets Important of exports (34 countries have Important of exports (34 countries have

partial or full ban)partial or full ban)

Outbreaks in North America among PoultryOutbreaks in North America among Poultry

20042004 Texas: H5N2: HPAI First in 20 yearsTexas: H5N2: HPAI First in 20 years7,000 birds and Houston Live Market7,000 birds and Houston Live MarketEradicatedEradicated Maryland: H7N2: LPAI: related to Delaware Maryland: H7N2: LPAI: related to Delaware

breakbreak Pennsylvania: H2N2: LPAI: Infected layer Pennsylvania: H2N2: LPAI: Infected layer

flockflock Delaware and NJ: H7N2: LPAI: Two farms in Delaware and NJ: H7N2: LPAI: Two farms in

Delaware and 4 live markets in NJ. Delaware and 4 live markets in NJ. British Columbia: H7N3: HPAI: Depopulated British Columbia: H7N3: HPAI: Depopulated

all poultry in the Fraser Valley. Repopulatedall poultry in the Fraser Valley. Repopulated

What is being done in USWhat is being done in US

Voluntary (mandatory) surveillance programVoluntary (mandatory) surveillance program

Must test for exportsMust test for exports Mandatory surveillance of live bird markets Mandatory surveillance of live bird markets

in NY, NJ and east coastin NY, NJ and east coast Increase awareness among poultry health Increase awareness among poultry health

officials and state officialsofficials and state officials USDA increase information to small flocks USDA increase information to small flocks

producersproducers Import ban on poultry from AsiaImport ban on poultry from Asia

What is being done in Kentucky?

•Commercial Surveillance Program

•Poultry Health Advisory Board

•Emergency Disease Plan

•Catastrophic Loss Training

•Creation of an indemnity fund for small flocks ($102,000) by commercial industry

What can you and small producers do?

•Biosecurity

•Personal Hygiene

Wash your hands, Wash your hands, Wash your hands

•Separate clothes and boots for the poultry

•Protective gear if creating an aerosol

•Be aware of where you have been

•Get sick birds to a diagnostic lab

•If you have a poultry event schedule in your county let the State Veterinarian Office know.

SummarySummary

The situation in Asia will get The situation in Asia will get worse before it is under controlworse before it is under control

The threat to North America is by The threat to North America is by the transfer of the disease by a the transfer of the disease by a human carrierhuman carrier

The US will increase programs to The US will increase programs to control Low Path Avian Influenzacontrol Low Path Avian Influenza

The media will get burnout on the The media will get burnout on the storystory

Trouble Shooting the Small Flock

Tony Pescatore

Extension Professor

Department of Animal Sciences

Agent Training

2005

1. Quantity, Age, and Types of Birds on Farm

• Important when dealing with mix species, mixed ages,

• What birds have the problem

2. What is the source of the birds?

• Multiple sources, new birds on farm, age of birds when purchased, NPIP hatchery

3. What feed is being fed to the birds?

List all feeds and the amount or proportion.

•Poultry need a complete feed that contains protein, energy, vitamins and minerals.

•Laying hens need diets that are 14-16%

•Broiler starter diets contain 20-22%

•Broiler grower diets contain 18-20%

•Turkeys, game birds and other fowl need higher protein.

•Cracked corn and scratch grains do not supply needed nutrition.

•1/4 pound per bird per day

•10 to 12 pounds of feed / broiler

4. How is water supplied ?

What is the source of water?

•Clean fresh water

•Pond vs. City water

•Clean mold free drinkers

•Winter: Frozen water lines and drinkers

•Summer: Heat build up / flush lines

•Opaque water lines and reservoirs

•5 gallons of water / 100 laying hens or market ready broilers

•Double water consumption in warm weather

How are the birds housed and what is the amount of room per bird?

•No matter the housing system you can over crowd the birds.

•Feeder space and water space can cause crowding. (all birds can eat at one time)

2 inches – 4 inches per bird

•Cannibalism, reduced feed consumption, feather picking, stress

•Chickens need at least 2.5 sq ft per bird on the floor and 80 sq inches of cage space

•Turkeys need 3 to 4 times the space of chickens

•Game birds need extra room to prevent cannibalism

Pastured Poultry

Free range

6. What symptoms do the birds exhibit?

•Listless

•Paralysis

•Loose/watery Droppings

•Blood in Droppings

•Coughing/Nasal Rattle

•Nasal Discharge

•Swollen Eyes

•Cannibalism, pecking/feather picking

•Drop in Egg Production

•Limber neck

•Visible External Parasites

•Poor Growth

•Skin Lesions

•Curled Toes

•Swollen Head

•Poor Shell Quality

•Swollen Hocks

•Crusted or swollen scales

•Other

7. Have any birds died (How many and when)?

•Which birds: age, species, what subpopulation

8. Have birds been sent to a diagnostic lab? Which lab?

Who is the submitting veterinarian?

•There is a charge at the labs. Cap of $55 for five birds

•The birds need to be submitted by a veterinarian

9. What vaccination program is being used on the farm?

List type and date of each vaccination.

•Vaccinate at the hatchery for Marek’s Disease

•No other vaccine unless a history of disease on premises

10. Is there a history of this type of disease or symptom?

11. What Lighting Program are the birds on?

Natural Light, Natural Light + Supplemental Light, Artificial Light

How much light (Hours / Day) do the birds receive?

•To lay year round need supplemental light for a day length of 14-16 hours of light

•Birds on natural light will go out of production after the first of the year because of short day length and will return to production in spring with increasing day length

•Constant light of 24 hours will cause the birds to go out of production

•A 60 watt bulb eight feet above the birds gives enough light in a 10 x 10 area

12. Which of the following condition exists on the farm?

•Clean and Neat

•Build up of wet litter or bedding in pens

•Good ground cover in outside pens or runs

•Muddy runs or outside pens with poor drainage

•Feed is properly stored and provided fresh daily

•Feed is stored in extreme conditions cold or hot

•Moldy or cake feed in feeders

•Table scrapes are laying in pens or runs

12. Which of the following condition exists on the farm?

•Waterer or drinkers are clean regularly

•Waterer or drinkers are dirty and not clean

•Rodents or pest present

•Wild birds have excess to buildings or feeders

•Poultry on farm are isolated from other animals

12. Which of the following condition exists on the farm?

•No new birds are brought on to the farm except as chicks

•New birds have been added to the flock within the last two months

•The owner has attended a poultry show or swap meet or exhibited birds

•Birds that have been to shows or swap meets are kept isolated for 30 days when returned to the farm

•Birds at shows and swap meets are added immediately to the flock

•Different species of birds are kept separate from each other (chicken and turkeys are not mixed)

•All species of birds are raised together with no separation

•Contact with commercial poultry