A cross-sectional survey of influenza A infection, and management practices in small rural backyard poultry flocks in two regions of New Zealand

Zheng, T., Adlam, B., Rawdon, T. G., Stanislawek, W. L., Cork, S. C., Hope, V., Buddle, B. M., Grimwood, K., Baker, M. G., O'Keefe, J. S. and Huang, Q. S. (2010) A cross-sectional survey of influenza A infection, and management practices in small rural backyard poultry flocks in two regions of New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 58 2: 74-80.


Author Zheng, T.
Adlam, B.
Rawdon, T. G.
Stanislawek, W. L.
Cork, S. C.
Hope, V.
Buddle, B. M.
Grimwood, K.
Baker, M. G.
O'Keefe, J. S.
Huang, Q. S.
Title A cross-sectional survey of influenza A infection, and management practices in small rural backyard poultry flocks in two regions of New Zealand
Journal name New Zealand Veterinary Journal  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2010-04
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1080/00480169.2010.65086
Volume number 58
Issue number 2
ISSN 0048-0169; 1176-0710; 1176-0702
Start page 74
End page 80
Total pages 7
Place of publication Wellington, New Zealand
Publisher New Zealand Veterinary Association
Collection year 2011
Language eng
Subject 070706 Veterinary Medicine
Formatted abstract Aim: To obtain baseline data on the management of small non-commercial backyard poultry flocks, in two rural regions of New Zealand, to investigate potential transmission pathways for avian influenza (AI), and to investigate the presence of AI in these flocks.

Methods: During August-October 2006 a questionnaire was sent to 105 farms in the Bay of Plenty and Wairarapa with poultry flocks comprising fewer than 50 chickens, located near wetlands where AI virus had been detected previously in wild ducks. Information was collected on the number and species of poultry reared, opportunities for interaction between wild birds and poultry, farm biosecurity measures, and health status of poultry. Between September and November 2006, blood and tracheal/cloacal swabs were collected from poultry on a subset of 12 high-risk farms in each location. Influenza A-specific antibodies in sera were assayed using ELISA, and positive sera were further tested for the presence of H5 and H7 subtype-specific antibodies, using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The presence of influenza A virus in swabs was detected using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RRT-PCR).

Results: Returned questionnaires were received from 54 farms. Overall, 80% had only chickens, 13% chickens and ducks, and 7% had chickens and other galliform species. Nearly all (96%) kept backyard chickens for personal consumption of eggs, with a small proportion (19%) preparing birds for the table. On surveyed farms wild waterfowl were seen on pastures (70%) and/or farm waterways (46%). Waterfowl were recorded as visiting areas where domestic birds were kept on 31% of farms. Bird litter and manure were composted (94%) or buried (6%) on-farm, as were most (82%) dead birds. During the targeted cross-sectional survey of 24 farms clinical disease was not recorded in any poultry flock. Of 309 chicken sera tested, 11 (3.6%) from five farms across both regions tested positive for influenza A antibodies. In contrast, 16/54 (30%) duck sera from three farms in the Wairarapa were positive. Avian influenza H5 and H7 subtype-specific antibodies were excluded in ELISA-positive sera using HI testing, and influenza A virus was not detected using RRT-PCR.

Conclusions: The study confirmed that small backyard poultry flocks located near waterfowl habitats were exposed to non-notifiable low-pathogenic AI viruses. Findings indicate a number of potential risk pathways for the transmission of AI viruses between wild birds and non-commercial poultry, and hence the need for continued surveillance for AI in backyard flocks and wild birds in New Zealand.
© 2011 Informa plc
Keyword Influenza
Avian
Risk factors
Backyard poultry
Antibodies
Seroconversion
Ecology
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2011 Collection
School of Medicine Publications
 
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Created: Sun, 25 Jul 2010, 00:03:48 EST