Cross Sectional Survey of
Live Bird Markets and Zoo Birds for Circulating Influenza Subtypes
in Pakistan
Zahida Fatima*1, Muhammad Athar Khan2,
Mansur-ud-Din Ahmad3, Khushi Muhammad4, Khalid
Naeem Khwaja1, Amjad Khan3, Zubair Anwar5,
Abdul Ahad6 and Altaf Mahmood7
1Pakistan
Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad-44000, Pakistan; 2University
of Lahore, Pakistan; 3Department of Epidemiology and
Public Health; 4Department of Microbiology, University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000, Pakistan; 5University
of Skovde, Sweden; 6Department of Microbiology and
Veterinary and Public Health, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal
Sciences University Bangladesh; 7Livestock and Dairy
Development Department, Punjab, Pakistan *Corresponding author:
drzahidavet@gmail.com
Abstract
In Pakistan, avian influenza surveillance has been both active and passive.
Here, we present the results of a survey effort focusing solely on the live bird
markets and wild bird species from different zoos and national parks to
understand the impact of live bird markets on the spread of highly pathogenic
avian influenza viruses. A cross sectional survey was conducted from Jan-Dec
2011 to identify and isolate the circulating avian influenza virus subtypes in
live bird markets and wild birds from different localities in and around
Islamabad Capital Territory. Swabs, tracheal tissues and sera samples were
collected, screened and diagnosed by hemagglutination inhibition assay and
RT-PCR. The highest seropositivity was recorded for H9 (100 %) followed by H5
(89.4%) and H7 (72.3%). All 27 isolates were of the low pathogenic H9N2 subtypes
and no viruses could be successfully isolated of subtype H5N1 or H7N7. The
higher prevalence of H5N1 (89.4%) observed in the present study was an alarming
threat; therefore, we suggested immediate control strategies against this
emerging risk of H5N1 for human in live bird markets in Pakistan. The factors
unveiled in this study will help in understanding the lapses in controlling
persistent outbreaks of avian influenza in country.
Key words:
Influenza,
Live bird markets,
Pakistan,
PCR,
Prevalence, Surveillance