ETIDIOH - NEW

ABSTRACT Avian influenza is one of the major threats to poultry and human health in northern Benin , while mixed-species farming systems increase the risks of viral transmission. The present study estimated the seroprevalence of avian influenza subtypes H9N2 and H5 in indigenous chickens and guinea fowls in the Atacora and Donga regions. A total of 300 birds including 191 indigenous chickens and 109 guinea fowls, from six districts were sampled through a cross-sectional survey using systematic random sampling. Hemagglutination inhibition assay was used to detect antibodies, revealing an overall H9N2 seroprevalence of 41%, with 17.5% of samples testing positive for H5 . The seroprevalence of H9N2 was notably higher in guinea fowls (51.81% in Atacora and 52% in Donga) compared to chickens (34.95% in Atacora and 34.83% in Donga). H5 antibodies were found only in guinea fowls in Atacora (46.66%). The study also found that farms with both chickens and guinea fowls had a significantly higher...

ABSTRACT The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b has caused a human outbreak in North America since March 2024. Here, we conducted a serosurveillance study to determine the risk of A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b (2024 cattle H5N1) to general population. In the initial screening of 180 serum specimens encompassing all age groups, 2.2% (4/180) had detectable neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers against reverse genetics-derived 2024 cattle H5N1, with all collected from older adults aged ≥60 years old. Further screening showed that 4.2% (19/450) of adults aged ≥60 years old had detectable nAb titers against the 2024 cattle H5N1 . 80% (4/5) serum specimens with nAb titer of ≥40 had detectable HI titer, and there was a positive correlation between nAb titer and HA binding (r = 0.3325, 95% confidence interval 0.2477 to 0.4123; P < 0.0001). The nAb titer against seasonal H1N1 virus was 4.2-fold higher for ≥60 years old individuals with detectable H5N1 nAb titer than those ≥...

ABSTRACT Unexpected outbreaks caused by the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in dairy cows in the United States (US) have raised significant veterinary and public health concerns . When and how the H5N1 HPAIV was introduced into dairy cows and the broader epidemiology of influenza A virus (IAV) infections in cattle in the US remain unclear. Herein, we performed a retrospective study to screen more than 1,700 cattle serum samples collected from different bovine breeds in the US from January 2023 to May 2024 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) targeting the nucleoprotein (NP) to detect IAV infections, and the positive samples were further tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay . Results showed that 586 of 1,724 samples (33.99%) from 15 US states were seropositive by the NP ELISA assay , including 78 samples collected in 2024 and 508 samples collected in 2023 . Moreover, the HI assay revealed that 45 of these ELISA-positive samples were positiv...

Summary -- What is already known about this topic? -  Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infections have been detected in humans exposed to infected dairy cattle. -- What is added by this report? -  Public health officials conducted a serosurvey among 150 bovine veterinary practitioners. Three practitioners had evidence of recent infection with HPAI A(H5 ) virus, including two without exposures to animals with known or suspected HPAI A(H5) virus infections and one who did not practice in a U.S. state with known HPAI A(H5) virus–infected cattle. -- What are the implications for public health practice? -  These findings suggest the possible benefit of systematic surveillance for rapid identification of HPAI A(H5) virus in dairy cattle, milk, and humans who are exposed to cattle to ensure appropriate hazard assessments. Abstract The current outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4.b viruses, genotype B3.13, among dairy cattle...

ABSTRACT The current situation with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) is causing a worldwide concern due to multiple outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, and mammals. Moreover, multiple zoonotic infections in humans have been reported. Importantly, HPAI H5N1 viruses with genetic markers of adaptation to mammals have been detected. Together with HPAI H5N1, avian influenza viruses H7N9 (high and low pathogenic) stand out due to their high mortality rates in humans . This raises the question of how prepared we are serologically and whether seasonal vaccines are capable of inducing protective immunity against these influenza subtypes. An observational study was conducted in which sera from people born between years 1925–1967, 1968–1977, and 1978–1997 were collected before or after 28 days or 6 months post-vaccination with an inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine. Then, hemagglutination inhibition, viral neutralization, and immunoassays were performed to assess the basal pro...

ABSTRACT The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b has caused a human outbreak in North America since March 2024 . Here, we conducted a serosurveillance study to determine the risk of A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b (2024 cattle H5N1 ) to general population . In the initial screening of 180 serum specimens encompassing all age groups , 2.2% (4/180) had detectable neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers against 2024 cattle H5N1, with all collected from older adults aged ≥60 years old . Further screening showed that 5.0% (15/300) of adults aged ≥70 years old had detectable nAb titers against the 2024 cattle H5N1. All serum specimens with nAb titer of ≥40 had detectable HI titer, and there was a positive correlation between nAb titer and HA binding (r=0.3311, 95% confidence interval 0.2264 to 0.4283; P<0.0001). The nAb titer against seasonal H1N1 virus was 3.9-fold higher for patients with detectable H5N1 nAb than those without (geometric mean titer: 108.5 [95% CI 56.3-209.1...