Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Virus in Feathers
H Nuradji1,2,3, J Bingham1, J Payne1
11 CSIRO-Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Veterinary Pathology
|September 2, 2016
Summary
Feathers can be used to diagnose highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds. Histological examination revealed viral antigen in duck and chicken feathers, supporting their diagnostic potential for H5N1 avian flu.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Virology
- Diagnostic Microbiology
Background:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poses a significant threat to avian populations.
- Feathers are being investigated as a potential diagnostic sample for HPAI detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the morphological basis of H5N1 HPAI virus infection in feathers.
- To evaluate the utility of feathers for HPAI diagnosis in ducks and chickens.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of feather sections from infected ducks and chickens.
- Immunohistochemistry to detect viral antigen in feather tissues.
- Analysis of samples from birds infected with different H5N1 HPAI virus clades.
Main Results:
- In ducks, HPAI lesions and viral antigen were primarily in feather epidermis and follicles.
- In chickens, lesions and viral antigen were mainly in the feather dermis.
- Viral antigen was abundant in most chicken feathers, but varied in ducks depending on the virus origin (Vietnamese vs. Indonesian).
Conclusions:
- Feather histology and antigen detection provide insights into H5N1 HPAI pathogenesis.
- Feathers are a viable sample type for diagnosing H5N1 HPAI in birds, with variations observed between species and virus strains.
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