Establishment ofan active surveillance system to monitor avian influenzaviruses circulating among wild birds in Egyptian environment / Ahmed Elsayed Mohamed Elsayed Kaid ; Supervised Nabil Brahim Elsayed Hegazi , Mohamed Fayez Fouad Ibrahim , Mohamed Ahmed Ahmed Ali

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Microbiology

Egypt is a habitat of many wild bird species and hosts Millions of migratory birds annually migrating between Palearctic and Afrotropical ecozones. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) surveillance is critical for assessing the risks of potential influenza viruses that came with wild migrating birds. In this study, a total of 3469 swab samples (cloacal, oropharyngeal, and environmental) were collected from 6 different sampling sites every year during the annual migration seasons from 2014 to 2018. Samples were inoculated in SPF egg to isolate influenza viruses and the genetic and antigenic characteristics of isolated viruses were studied. Results showed that the prevalence of influenza A viruses were 2.17% represented in different subtypes of influenza virus. All isolated influenza viruses were belonge to Eurasian lineage which indicates transmission of viruses to Egypt during the annual migration.Data showed a significant genetic exchange of isolated viruses with new subtypes other than influenza subtypes that endemic in Egypt. The viral profile of isolated viruses showed the presence of highly pathogenic and low pathogenic viruses. Also, the ability of the surveillance system to isolate H5N8 virus several months before its first emerging in Egypt add high value for surveillance as an efficient tool for early warning alarm to emerged viruses and hence protect the poultry production sectors and human from infection with new viruses

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