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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Exotic & Emerging Avian Viral Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #314895
Title: Avian influenza virus

Author
item Spackman, Erica
item Suarez, David

Submitted to: Isolation and Identification of Avian Pathogens
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Avian influenza (AI) is caused by type A influenza virus, a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family. AI viruses are serologically categorized into 16 hemagglutinin (H1-H16) and 9 neuraminidase (N1-N9) subtypes. All subtypes have been identified in birds. Infections by AI viruses have been reported in a variety of domestic and wild birds worldwide. In gallinaceous poultry, AI virus infections can be clinical, but the features are variable depending on virus strain, host species, host age, and overall host health status. Some H5 and H7 strains are highly pathogenic (HP) for gallinaceous poultry and produce a systemic infection which results in high mortality. Although most H5 and H7 strains are low pathogenic (LP), they should be considered to have the potential to mutate to HP. Both LP and HP H5 and H7 strains isolated from poultry are notifiable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Agent identification and methods will be covered.