Avian Influenza (AI)
Avian influenza (AI) is a
virus-caused disease usually infecting birds. AI viruses can infect chickens,
turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl as well as a wide
variety of other birds, including migratory waterfowl.
AI viruses are classified by a
combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin proteins (H), of which
there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase proteins (N), of which there are 9
(N1-N9).
AI strains are also divided into
two groups based on pathogenicity—the ability of the virus to produce disease.
Most AI strains are classified as low pathogenicity (LP) avian influenza and
cause little or no clinical signs in infected birds. LPAI poses no serious
threat to humans. Some strains of LPAI—H5 and H7—can mutate to the more
highly pathogenic forms. Birds with HPAI get a more virulent form of avian
influenza.
People can get HPAI from birds, but
it requires extensive close contact with infected birds. For HPAI to spread from
person to person, the virus would have to mutate, to change.
The strain that is currently a
problem from Southeast Asia is H5N1 HPAI.
To learn more about ARS avian
influenza research, see:
"International
Partnership for Poultry Safety," in the November 2005 issue of
Agricultural Research magazine.
"A
New, Rapid Test for Avian Influenza," in the February 2003 issue
of Agricultural Research magazine.
For information about other USDA
programs on avian influenza, go to www.usda.gov/birdflu.
ARS Research Projects and
Programs
ARS is developing new information
and important tools to help control this disease in poultry. ARS supports
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and poultry industry action programs with epidemiology,
molecular virology, pathogenesis research, and technical assistance on avian
influenza.
 | In 2002, ARS developed a new rapid diagnostic test for avian influenza and
has been continually improving the test’s sensitivity. This test now
diagnoses avian influenza within three hours, compared with up to two weeks
required for previous tests.
| Today, ARS researchers are studying factors that affect the virus’
transmission between birds and its genetic and molecular adaptation from
waterfowl and other migratory birds to domestic poultry. They are also
evaluating the role of ducks in Asia as an infection reservoir that might be
sustaining the virus in the environment.
| ARS researchers are also working to develop enhanced vaccines for birds
against avian influenza.
| ARS is developing and evaluating techniques to predict which mild forms of
viruses might change to more deadly forms of the AI virus.
| ARS is assisting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with
evaluating recombinant vaccines to ensure human vaccines will not cause
disease in poultry.
| ARS is directly assisting APHIS in trade negotiations of poultry products
by determining the risk for low and high pathogenicity AIV in poultry meat
and the ability of pasteurization to inactivate AIV in egg products and
cooking to kill HPAIV in poultry meat. |
| | | | |
Southeast
Poultry Research Lab Avian Influenza Research Program:
http://seprl.ars.usda.gov/avian_flu.html
The Southeast Poultry Research Lab (SEPRL)
research efforts on avian influenza are directed toward understanding why and
how mild viruses become highly pathogenic, developing better diagnostic tests
and improved vaccines, and elucidating the molecular and pathological basis for
virulence.
Research Projects
Application of Biological and
Molecular Techniques to the Diagnosis and Control of Avian Influenza and Other
Emerging Poultry Pathogens
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=411346
Development of An Experimental Model and Testing for Efficacy of West Nile
and Avian Influenza Recombinant Pox Vectored Vaccines
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=405547
Mucosal Immunization to Protect Poultry Against Avian Influenza
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=405500
Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza in the U.S.
A large ($5 million) multi-location, multi-institution grant from USDA
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, in which ARS is a
partner.
http://www.aicap.umd.edu/
Publications
Publication Abstract: Avian Influenza Virus: Prospects for Prevention and
Control by Vaccination
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=172748
Publication Abstract: Characterization of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian
Influenza a Viruses Isolated from Korean Poultry
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=168553
Publication Abstract: Comparative Susceptibility of Selected Avian and
Mammalian Species to a Hong Kong-Origin H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=134622
Publication Abstract: Use of a Novel Virus Inactivation Method for a
Multi-Center Avian Influenza Real-Time Rt-Pcr Proficiency
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=156392
