Serologic Evidence of Avian Influenza H9N2 and Paramyxovirus Type 1 Infection in Emus (Dromaius novaehottandiaè) in India

• Published in: Avian diseases 2012-03, Vol.56 (1), p.257-260
• Main Authors: Shinde, Prashant V., Koratkar, Santosh S., Pawar, Shailesh D., Kale, Sandeep D., Rawankar, Amol S., Mishra, Akhilesh C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age groups; Agriculture; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Case Reports; Dromaiidae; Emus; H5N1 subtype influenza A virus; H9N2 subtype influenza A virus; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests - methods; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests - veterinary; India - epidemiology; Infections; Influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - classification; Influenza A virus - isolation & purification; Influenza in Birds - epidemiology; Influenza in Birds - virology; Neutralization Tests - methods; Neutralization Tests - veterinary; Newcastle Disease - epidemiology; Newcastle Disease - virology; Newcastle disease virus - classification; Newcastle disease virus - isolation & purification; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Surveillance; Viruses; Waterfowl
• ISSN: 0005-2086; 1938-4351
• DOI: 10.1637/9878-080511-Case.1

An avian influenza (AI) surveillance was undertaken in Maharashtra state, India during the period 2010-2011. There are no reports of AI surveillance in emus from India. A total of 202 blood samples and 467 trachéal and cloacal swabs were collected from eight emu farms. A hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was performed for detection of antibodies against AI H5N1, H7N1, H9N2, and avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) viruses. A microneutralization (MN) assay was performed to confirm the presence of neutralizing antibodies against AI H9N2 and to compare with HI assays. A total of 28.2% and 28.7% of samples were positive for antibodies against AI H9N2 by HI and MN assays, respectively, using ≥ 1: 40 as a cut-off titer; 15.3% samples were positive for APMV-1 by HI assay using a ≥ 1: 10 cut-off titer. Seropositivity of AI H9N2 was nil in the grower (< 1 yr) age group and highest (78%) in the breeder (2— 3 yr) age group, whereas seropositivity against APMV-1 was observed in all age groups. Performance of both HI and MN assays was similar, suggesting the utility of using the MN assay along with HI assay for surveillance studies. This is the first report of the seroprevalence of AI H9N2 and APMV-1 in emus in India. Un programa de vigilancia para la influenza aviar se llevó a cabo en el estado de Maharashtra, en la India durante el período 2010-2011. No hay informes de programas de vigilancia para la influenza aviar de emúes en la India. Un total de 202 muestras de sangre y 467 hisopos traqueales y cloacales se obtuvieron de ocho granjas de emúes. Se llevó a cabo un ensayo de inhibición de la hemaglutinación (HI) para la detección de anticuerpos contra los subtipos H5N1, H7N1 y H9N2 de influenza, y para el paramixovirus aviar tipo 1 (APMV-1). Se realizó un ensayo de microneutralización para confirmar la presencia de anticuerpos neutralizantes contra la influenza aviar H9N2, y comparar con los ensayos de inhibición de la hemoaglutinación. Un total de 28.2% y 28.7% de las muestras fueron positivas para anticuerpos contra la influenza aviar H9N2 mediante inhibición de la hemaglutinación y los ensayos de microneutralización, respectivamente, con título de corte de ≥ 1: 40, un 15.3% de las muestras fueron positivas para APMV-1 mediante un ensayo de inhibición de la hemoaglutinación con un título de corte de ≥ 1: 10. La seropositividad de la influenza aviar H9N2 fue nula en las aves en crecimiento (menores de 1 año) y fue la mayor en los reproductores (78%) de dos a tr