Avian Influenza: Effective Biosecurity is Critical to Prevention.

 

Avian Influenza: Effective Biosecurity is Critical to Prevention.Avian influenza (AI) is a very important infectious disease of both poultry and other birds caused by influenza type A viruses. Although multiple viral strains exist, the disease appears in two forms, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). 

 The distinction between pathogenicity of a particular avian influenza virus is based upon its potential to result in severe disease in poultry and the presence of specific genetic attributes that contribute to this virulence. 

 In both poultry and wild birds, LPAI may present either sub clinically or as mild respiratory disease. This form of the disease in poultry might be observed as sneezing, coughing, and nasal or ocular discharge with a negative impact on productivity despite mortality remaining low. 

 As a natural reservoir for avian influenza, wild birds in many cases may not exhibit any clinical signs, even in the event of HPAI infection. Poultry may experience mortality rates approaching 100% during a HPAI outbreak and exhibit clinical signs such as lethargy, severe respiratory distress leading to cyanosis, edema and hemorrhage in tissues of the head, legs, internal organs, muscles, neurologic deficits, and diarrhea.

 Avian influenza viruses have a predilection for the intestinal and respiratory tracts of the bird, therefore oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs are common diagnostic samples submitted to detect this pathogen.Get the guide.