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Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries

Published: November 18, 2016
By: Husam Bakri*, MSD-Animal Health, Dubai, 502947, UAE. *Currently at Vaxxinova
Summary

Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious disease caused by type A influenza viruses that are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae in the genus Influenza virus A. Middle East countries have an estimated poultry population of 3 billion broilers, 137 million commercial layers, 30 million breeders, 2x106 layer breeders and 500.000 GP broilers,180.000 GS layers. Since 1999 the region faces different health problems such as drop in egg production, close to peak production: up to 62 % during 2-3 weeks, thin – shelled, rough and misshapen eggs, moderate mortality and respiratory signs in commercial Layer and Breeder production; while in broiler it was noticed severe mortality (over 60% after 3 weeks of age), severe respiratory signs, high percentage of condemnation due to secondary bacterial infections. Different serum and tissues samples were taken from breeders, layers and broilers from different countries and analyzed by serology and virus isolation. The results showed the presence of AI H9N2 virus in the Middle East area combined with IB or ND.; different investigations were done using reduction in mortality and improvement in production as parameters. By using Nobilis Influenza H9N2, the farmers were able to control the economic impact of the infection.

 

Keywords: AIV; Middle East; Nobilis Influenza H9N2 vaccine. 

 
Introduction
The avian influenza virus (AIV) H9N2 subtype was first characterized in 1966 as causing mild respiratory diseases in turkeys (Homme and Easterday, 1970) and, for the first decade after its isolation, was found only in shorebirds and mallards (Kawaoka, et al., 1988). However, after almost 50-years evolution and propagation, the H9N2 viruses have spread across most of the earth, circulating in wild bird and domestic poultry populations worldwide. Although AIV infections commonly result in low mortality in avian populations, in immunosuppressed chickens, recent isolates of H9N2 virus have been associated with high mortality in young chicken and a severe decline in egg production in laying chickens via secondary bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract and other viruses resulted in significant economic losses of domestic poultry.
 
AI in the Middle East
Estimated poultry population in the Middle East consists of 3 billion broilers, 137 million commercial layers, 30 million breeders, 2 million layer breeders. Since 1999 the region faces different health problems such as drop in egg production, close to peak production: up to 62 % during 2-3 weeks, thin – shelled, rough and misshapen eggs, moderate mortality and respiratory signs in commercial Layer and Breeder production; while in broiler it was noticed severe mortality (over 60% after 3 weeks of age), severe respiratory signs, high percentage of condemnation due to secondary bacterial infections. Thus, it has been believed valuable to find out what is the reason behind above mentioned respiratory problems.
 
Materials and methods
Several field visits to flocks with these clinical signs were performed in Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Yemen. A large number of samples (serum and tissues) have been collected for serological testing and virus isolation. ELISA tests performed for the major respiratory diseases such as IB, ND, AI, TRT, EDS and ILT. Test results showed the presence of AI. So HI test and virus isolation from tissues, kidney, trachea, lung and ceacal tonsils was done to detect and type the strain of AI.
 
Results and discussion
More than 60%, 1790 blood samples showed positive AI antibody response in AGP and Elisa tests. Same sera tested in HI showed positive titers against AI H9 strain, (Figure 1) and IB 4/91(data not shown).
From tissues frequently AI H9N2 virus was isolated, (Table 1), and IB serotype 4/91 (793B) also, (data not shown).
 
Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries - Image 1
Figure 1: HI results of Broilers, Breeders and Layers
Table 1: Number of virus isolation samples.
Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries - Image 2
 
Discussion and Conclusion 
Field trials have been conducted in UAE at a farm, where AI H9 was isolated the first time. In this commercial layer farm one house (45,000 birds, Lohmann) was vaccinated. A second house (45,000 birds, Lohmann) was not vaccinated as control. Birds were vaccinated twice with 0.5 ml of the vaccine Nobilis® Influenza H9N2 at 12 weeks and 16 weeks of age. Production and mortality were monitored. (See figure 2). The control flock which showed a severe drop in egg production just before the peak of lay: 62% at 21 weeks of age. No drop in egg production and mortality were observed in the vaccinated flock. Intervet was the first company to introduce Nobilis® Influenza H9N2 in the area after intensive field investigation. Field trials were performed in the most endemic area and showed good protection against clinical signs. Figure 3 showed Production and mortality curves of a breeder flock, infected with AI H9N2, while figure 4 showed the egg quality of during AI problems in a commercial layer farm.
 
Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries - Image 3 Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries - Image 4
Figure 2: Results of a field trial with commercial layers in UAE: Production curve of a non-vaccinated flock (Non Vac) and a flock vaccinated with Nobilis Influenza H9N2 at 12 and 16 weeks of age (Vac).
 Figure 3: Production and Mortality curves of a breeder flock, infected with AI H9N2.
All the results from isolation, Elisa and HI tests show that H9N2 is present in the Middle East countries. Most of the governments allowed the use of vaccines containing the antigen H9N2 in order to control the economical impact of the disease.
In conclusion: AI H9 virus has a high prevalence in the Middle East region. The vaccine Nobilis® Influenza H9N2 helps the farmers to control the economical impact of the infection.
 
Avian Influenza H9N2 in the Middle East Countries - Image 5
Figure 4: Egg quality during AI problems in a commercial layer farm.
Acknowledgements
  • The author would like to extend his thanks to Animal Health Service Deventer – The Netherlands.
  • Institute of Animal Health, Compton – UK.
  • R&D service laboratory, MSD-International – The Netherlands for their technical help.
 
References
1. HOMME, J. and EASTERDAY, C. (1970) Avian influenza virus infections I Characteristics of influenza A-turkey-Wisconsin-1966 virus. Avian Disease, Vol.14, pp. 66-74.
2. KAWAOKA, Y., CHAMBERS, M., SLADEN, L., and WEBSTER, G. (1988) Is the gene pool of influenza viruses in shorebirds and gulls different from that in wild ducks? Virology, Vol. 163, pp. 247-250.
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Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
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Dr Kotaiah Talapaneni
Indbro Research & Breeding Farms
3 de mayo de 2017

Import of avian influenza vaccines into India is banned by government of India.

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
28 de abril de 2017

Dear Entang,

1-Thank you for your massage and hope you are doing well. Honestly, I do not have any data on this, but according to the potency test, every dose has 7.0 Log HI unite.
2- The only sure information I can reply is when you challenge SPF birds by spray method with AI H9, the virus showed clinical signs and mortality.

All the best.

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
25 de abril de 2017

Dear Dr. Yousef,
Thank you for your questions.
1- We hade 3 new isolation on 2013 from different countries and we found that they are 93% - 95% close to the vaccines strain. From my field experience, the vaccine did a great job to control the AI, specially in layer and breeder. Regarding using the vaccine and not getting good protection, specially in broiler, the following reasons are playing main roles:
1-Biosecurity is not good. 
2- If AI infection before 3 weeks in this case. vaccine will not help as the protection from the killed vaccine will be after 3 weeks. we have seen this cases in many areas.
3- Vaccine application. During my hatcheries vaccination audit, I have seen many cases with the % of the proper vaccination at day one is not more than 60%, in this case 40% are not protected.

We have farmers using the vaccine in high challenge with very good results, this showed that AI vaccines from most of the good international companies giving good protections.

Regarding titer question. Can you please give me more explanation.

All the best.

Bakri

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
16 de abril de 2017

Dear Dr. Turki,
Hope you are doing well. AI H9N2 is present in most of the Middle East and North Africa countries and most of them using the vaccine to control the disease.

All the best

Bakri

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
16 de abril de 2017
Dear Mohamed, I am sorry the below is my email : Husam_bakri@hotmail.com Mobile : 00962795553703 All the best
Mohamed Swelam
16 de abril de 2017

Dr.Hossam; I send you questions related to your post but no answer.

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
16 de abril de 2017

Dear Mohammed,
First thank you for your question. Yes shak the killed vaccines is important during the vaccination, but also the most important is the type and quality of adjuvants is playing big role in the antigen distribution that why even if you shak the vaccine during the vaccination frequently you still not getting homoginsity in immune response if the quality of the adjuvant not good.

All the best

Bakri

Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
13 de abril de 2017
Dear Ezat, 1- Recombinant vaccine are good in general not just for AI and it will be future of the vaccines . 2- Yes I agree killed vaccine need time to get immunity from it , but what we can do as we can not use AI live vaccine. As live vaccines in general give fast immunity. That why good biosecurity need to protect birds from early infection not just AI also other diseases . All the best Bakri
Husam Bakri
Vaxxinova
13 de abril de 2017
Dear Mohammed , Yes AI infection is playing a role in respiratory vaccines response. From our experience in the filed the most important point is before the flock comes to the production having good immunity against AI as most of the flock has been infected on the way to peak. All the best Bakri
Mohamed Swelam
12 de abril de 2017

Dear Dr. Hussam Bakri;
Bases on your experience in the Middle East and avian flu (H9) problems, I would like to inquire about the effect of H9 on production in commercial layer flocks and whether the effect is different according to the age of production.
By the way, is the negative effect of the respiratory vaccination in the presence of H9 has the same response In the sense of the existence of H9 whether the vaccination by using clone or lasota vaccine.

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