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Prospective study of avian influenza H9 infection in commercial poultry farms of Punjab Province and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan

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Abstract

A prospective study was conducted from November 2013 to February 2014 to estimate the spatial clustering; cumulative incidence and risk factors associated with avian influenza (AI) subtype H9 infection on commercial poultry farms of Pakistan. A total of 400 farms were enrolled and followed during the study period. Among these, 109 farms submitted samples suspected for AI to the laboratory, and only 47 farms were confirmed positive by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) test. Data was collected from these 109 farms about their demography, management, and biosecurity practices. The cumulative incidence of H9N2 was 11.75 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 8.76–15.23). The highest number of cases (40.42 %) was reported in January. One most likely cluster (p = 0.009, radius = 4.61 km) occurred in the Kasur district. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that the presence of wild birds on the farms (odds ratio (OR) = 16.18; 95 % CI 3.94–66.45) was independently associated with H9N2 infection. Cleaning of cages before delivery on farm (OR = 0.16; 95 % CI = 0.06–0.47), presence of a footbath at the entrance of farm (OR = 0.24; 95 % CI 0.08–0.79), and changing of gloves (OR = 0.33; 95 % CI 0.11–0.99) were protective factors against H9N2 infection. Reducing the exposure to risk factors and adapting biosecurity measures may reduce the risk of AI H9N2 infection on commercial poultry farms in Pakistan.

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Abbreviations

AI:

Avian influenza

AIVs:

Avian influenza viruses

GIS:

Geographic information system

HI:

Hemagglutinin inhibition test

OR:

Odds ratios

CI:

Confidence intervals

RR:

Relative risk

AR:

Attack rate

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Acknowledgments

The authors are highly indebted to respondents of the commercial farms, who participated in study for data collection. We also acknowledge the support of staff of commercial poultry laboratory for providing us data from logbook about case farms, which were included in the study. Without their great cooperation and help, this study would not have been possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jilani Road, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan

    Mamoona Chaudhry & Maqbool Ahmad

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Abdul Qadir Jilani Road, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

    Hamad Bin Rashid

  3. Grand Parent Poultry Laboratory, 2 KM Bhobatia Chowk, Opposite to COMSAT University, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan

    Bakhat Sultan

  4. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University Bahawalpur, Hasilpur Road, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

    Haroon Rashid Chaudhry

  5. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46300, Pakistan

    Aayesha Riaz

  6. Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Punjab, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shabir Shaheen

Authors
  1. Mamoona Chaudhry
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  2. Maqbool Ahmad
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  3. Hamad Bin Rashid
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  4. Bakhat Sultan
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  5. Haroon Rashid Chaudhry
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Correspondence to Mamoona Chaudhry.

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Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data. The owners of the commercial farms were briefed about the objective of study, and informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study to collect data.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Chaudhry, M., Ahmad, M., Rashid, H.B. et al. Prospective study of avian influenza H9 infection in commercial poultry farms of Punjab Province and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan. Trop Anim Health Prod 49, 213–220 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1159-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1159-6

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