Epidemiology Of Avian Influenza In Domestic Poultry And Wild Birds In The Tema Metropolis

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious disease of birds caused by influenza type A viruses. Migratory waterfowl - most notably wild water fowls are the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses. There are 16 subtypes of influenza A viruses, of which H5 and H7 subtypes are the most pathogenic In April 2007, the first outbreak of HPAI was reported in Ghana in a small scale poultry farm at Kakasunanka, near Michel Camp in the Tema Metropolis. There were subsequent outbreaks of the AI virus at Adjei Kojo in Tema Metropolis, Sunyani Municipality in the Brong Ahafo and Aflao in Ketu South District in the Volta regions in the same year. All infected poultry farms were stamped out. This study sought to determine the current profile of Avian Influenza viruses in domestic commercial poultry, backyard poultry, live bird markets and wild birds in the Tema Metropolis over a one year period and covering the dry and wet seasons. METHODS From May 2009 to March 2010, we administered a semi-structured questionnaire to poultry farmers and conducted a cross sectional study on 1282 field samples involving fresh faeces, tracheal and cloacal swabs from domestic poultry, live bird markets and wild birds from 16 communities in the Tema Metropolis. These samples were then vi subjected to real-time Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase chain reaction analysis for Influenza A virus. RESULTS All the 1282 avian samples tested, were negative for Influenza A viruses. However, Newcastle disease virus was detected in 8% (5/63) of the farms where birds sampled showed respiratory and nervious signs. Commercial farms accounted for 5%, backyard for 2% and live birds market 1%. Also, adherence by farmers to good poultry management practices and proper bio-security measures was found to be low. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of circulation of AI H5N1 among domestic poultry and wild birds in the study population, between May 2009 and March 2010. This negative result for AI virus in the study shows that measures taken by poultry farmers and other stakeholders were probably effective. However, VSD should conduct further education of farmers on good poultry practices and bio-security.