Avian Influenza and the Avian Influenza and the Role of SurveillanceRole of Surveillance

Dr. John RobinsonDr. John RobinsonVeterinary VirologistVeterinary Virologist

Animal Health Centre (AHC)Animal Health Centre (AHC)BCMALBCMAL

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Overview of Avian Influenza VirologyOverview of Avian Influenza Virology International Waterbird Society Program International Waterbird Society Program

Meeting SummaryMeeting Summary AI Surveillance B.C. Wild/Domestic BirdsAI Surveillance B.C. Wild/Domestic Birds AHC Future Role in H5N1 & Other AI AHC Future Role in H5N1 & Other AI

Surveillance and Diagnostics Surveillance and Diagnostics

NH

Genome

8 RNA Gene Segments

1) HA

2) NA

3) M1/2

4) NS1/2

5) NP

6) PA

7) PB1

8) PB2

AI Virus ClassificationAI Virus Classification

AI Viruses are AI Viruses are SUBTYPED SUBTYPED by proteins by proteins projecting from surface of the virusprojecting from surface of the virus HA HA glycoprotein or glycoprotein or Hemagglutinin 16 subtypesHemagglutinin 16 subtypes NA NA glycoprotein or glycoprotein or Neuraminidase 9 subtypesNeuraminidase 9 subtypes

H1N1 = Spanish Flu 1918H1N1 = Spanish Flu 1918

H7N3 = British Columbia 2004H7N3 = British Columbia 2004

H5N1 = 1997-2006 “Bird Flu”H5N1 = 1997-2006 “Bird Flu”

IDENTIFIED IDENTIFIED by species, place & timeby species, place & time

AI Virus ClassificationAI Virus Classification Avian Influenza isolates- Avian Influenza isolates-

examplesexamples A/Chicken/British Columbia/2004 A/Chicken/British Columbia/2004

(H7N3)(H7N3) A/Tk/California/2002 (H5N2)A/Tk/California/2002 (H5N2) A/Duck/England/1962 (H4N1)A/Duck/England/1962 (H4N1) A/Ruddy turnstone/New A/Ruddy turnstone/New

Jersey/2000 (H5N3)Jersey/2000 (H5N3)

IMPORTANTIMPORTANT: : Influenza Viruses Influenza Viruses are constantly EVOLVINGare constantly EVOLVING

AI Virus ClassificationAI Virus Classification

• AI viruses evolve as a result of AI viruses evolve as a result of mutations, re-assortments, & mutations, re-assortments, & recombination of their genesrecombination of their genes

• Virus evolves to evade “immune Virus evolves to evade “immune pressure”pressure”

become adapted, and obtain host become adapted, and obtain host stabilitystability

• Currently: 144 AI virus strains Currently: 144 AI virus strains

AI Virus PathogenicityAI Virus Pathogenicity

• AI Viruses also classified as to AI Viruses also classified as to PATHOGENICITYPATHOGENICITY = = abilityability of a virus of a virus to to inflict damageinflict damage on the host or cause Disease on the host or cause Disease

• Wild BirdsWild Birds (especially Ducks, Geese & Swans) are the (especially Ducks, Geese & Swans) are the Natural Reservoir of Influenza viruses and exist in a well Natural Reservoir of Influenza viruses and exist in a well adapted balance of virus and bird. Non-pathogenic adapted balance of virus and bird. Non-pathogenic state.state.

• Most AI virus infections of poultry have been Most AI virus infections of poultry have been weakly pathogenic or what is called weakly pathogenic or what is called Low PathLow Path (LP) ….but rarely AI’s can (LP) ….but rarely AI’s can abruptly mutate inabruptly mutate in poultry to poultry to High Path (HP)High Path (HP) causing severe causing severe diseasedisease

Bird fluBird flu

AI Virus PathogenicityAI Virus Pathogenicity

To date only LP strains of the To date only LP strains of the H5H5 and and H7H7 (rarely (rarely H9) subtypes have been able to go from H9) subtypes have been able to go from LPAI > LPAI > HPAIHPAI

Rarely, some H5 & H7 strains (+H9) have Rarely, some H5 & H7 strains (+H9) have caused illness in people and only after direct caused illness in people and only after direct exposure to HPAI exposure to HPAI infected poultryinfected poultry (H5N1) (H5N1)

No known human infectionsNo known human infections from exposure to AI from exposure to AI infected infected wild birdswild birds

Gene SequencingGene Sequencing

Gene SequencingGene Sequencing: Determining the identity of genes by : Determining the identity of genes by analyzing the distinctive order of their “building blocks” analyzing the distinctive order of their “building blocks” called nucleotidescalled nucleotides

TThe importance of he importance of gene sequencinggene sequencing::a) Determine if HPAI or LPAIa) Determine if HPAI or LPAI

b) Compare the genetic “ancestry” of different AI b) Compare the genetic “ancestry” of different AI strains to determine their origin ---- strains to determine their origin ----

“How they Got There!”“How they Got There!”c) Determine and c) Determine and predictpredict the evolving nature of the the evolving nature of the

AI virusAI virus

Phylogenetic Tree

WATERBIRDS WATERBIRDS 20052005

2727thth Meeting of the Meeting of the International Water International Water Bird Society,Tainan Bird Society,Tainan City, China, Nov 24-City, China, Nov 24-27.27.

Theme:Theme:

““Avian Disease and the Avian Disease and the Migration of Birds”Migration of Birds”

Waterbird SocietyWaterbird Society

Committed to the Scientific Study and Committed to the Scientific Study and conservation conservation of the World’s Waterbirdsof the World’s Waterbirds

Avian disease symposium concentrated Avian disease symposium concentrated on on Avian Influenza (H5N1Avian Influenza (H5N1 and other AI’s) and other AI’s)

ConcernConcern: : global migratory waterfowl and global migratory waterfowl and their habitats are threatenedtheir habitats are threatened because of because of the perception that they could trigger an the perception that they could trigger an H5N1 influenza-human pandemic. H5N1 influenza-human pandemic.

WaterbirdsWaterbirds conference conference Detailed Scientific reports by expert speakers Detailed Scientific reports by expert speakers on on

the the Avian Influenza SurveillanceAvian Influenza Surveillance programs programs ongoing from Australia, NZ, Taiwan-China, ongoing from Australia, NZ, Taiwan-China, People’s Republic of China, India, Nepal, People’s Republic of China, India, Nepal, France, Netherlands, England, Sweden, and France, Netherlands, England, Sweden, and CanadaCanada

Key Address:Key Address: “The Changing role of Waterbirds “The Changing role of Waterbirds in Avian Influenza Virus Ecology” Dr. David in Avian Influenza Virus Ecology” Dr. David Swayne, USDA SE Poultry Lab, U of Georgia, Swayne, USDA SE Poultry Lab, U of Georgia, USAUSA

WaterbirdsWaterbirds conference conference Capsule views:Capsule views:

Dr. R. YdenbergDr. R. Ydenberg, Director –Centre for Wildlife , Director –Centre for Wildlife Ecology, SFU:Ecology, SFU:

Little or no experimental work has been done Little or no experimental work has been done on the transmission of AI from domestic poultry on the transmission of AI from domestic poultry to wild birdsto wild birds

Stress & exhaustion during migration may make Stress & exhaustion during migration may make birds more susceptible to AIbirds more susceptible to AI

50% of the world’s shorebirds are in decline 50% of the world’s shorebirds are in decline and 80% in North America and 80% in North America

WaterbirdsWaterbirds conference conference Dr. M. LambertiniDr. M. Lambertini, BirdLife International, , BirdLife International,

Cambridge, EnglandCambridge, England Movement of Movement of domestic poultrydomestic poultry largely implicated largely implicated

in spread of disease in SE Asiain spread of disease in SE Asia Illegal trade in wild birds w/o quarantine Illegal trade in wild birds w/o quarantine

procedures a H5N1 transmission vehicleprocedures a H5N1 transmission vehicle Culling wild birds cannot stop H5N1 due to Culling wild birds cannot stop H5N1 due to

dispersing infected individualsdispersing infected individuals Called for world-wide surveillance monitoring of Called for world-wide surveillance monitoring of

dead birdsdead birds

Waterbirds Waterbirds conference conference

Dr. V.J. MunsterDr. V.J. Munster, Erasmus Medical Center, , Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsRotterdam, The Netherlands

Have screened over 20,000 cloacal samples Have screened over 20,000 cloacal samples from 250 bird species from 250 bird species

Prevalence up to 60% of ducks, geese, & gulls Prevalence up to 60% of ducks, geese, & gulls Influenza A’s; most subtypes found with 17 H5’s Influenza A’s; most subtypes found with 17 H5’s and 16 H7’s; detection in shorebirds rareand 16 H7’s; detection in shorebirds rare

Recent HPAI viruses in poultry outbreaks show Recent HPAI viruses in poultry outbreaks show close genetic relatedness to those in wild birdsclose genetic relatedness to those in wild birds

WaterbirdsWaterbirds conference conference V.J. MunsterV.J. Munster (continued) (continued) ““Our monitoring data shows the importance of Our monitoring data shows the importance of AI AI

virus surveillancevirus surveillance in wild birds to enable the in wild birds to enable the rapid response to emerging HPAI viruses rapid response to emerging HPAI viruses allowing the development of vaccines and allowing the development of vaccines and diagnostic reagents prior to outbreaks”diagnostic reagents prior to outbreaks”

Waterbirds Waterbirds conferenceconference

Dr. J.R. GailletDr. J.R. Gaillet, ONCFS, France, ONCFS, France Title “Title “Control and Monitoring systems for Control and Monitoring systems for

all Avian Influenza viruses in Franceall Avian Influenza viruses in France”” Two monitoring systems, (1) Passive Two monitoring systems, (1) Passive

surveillance of dead birds (2) capture & surveillance of dead birds (2) capture & sampling of wild birdssampling of wild birds

42,000 samples from 250 sampling areas 42,000 samples from 250 sampling areas detecting 93 strains of AI all LPdetecting 93 strains of AI all LP

““Changing Role of Waterbirds in AI Changing Role of Waterbirds in AI Virus Ecology”Virus Ecology”

Dr. D. SwayneDr. D. Swayne: SE Poultry Research Lab, ARS, : SE Poultry Research Lab, ARS, Georgia, USA Georgia, USA

wild birds are the natural reservoir & direct wild birds are the natural reservoir & direct source of LPAI; well-adapted source of LPAI; well-adapted balance of virus-balance of virus-bird and environment bird and environment EXCEPTION: H5N1EXCEPTION: H5N1

LPAI v’s “adapt” from wild birds to domestic LPAI v’s “adapt” from wild birds to domestic poultry with rare mutational change to HPAIpoultry with rare mutational change to HPAI

““adaptation” = progressive genetic changes of a adaptation” = progressive genetic changes of a virus strain to gain host susceptibilityvirus strain to gain host susceptibility

Swayne: Waterbird conferenceSwayne: Waterbird conference

Once AI virus has Once AI virus has adaptedadapted to a Gallinacious bird to a Gallinacious bird as as HPAIHPAI it normally will not it normally will not re-adaptre-adapt back into back into wild birdswild birds

Before Yr 2000, domestic ducks, waterfowl & Before Yr 2000, domestic ducks, waterfowl & most wild bird species were little affected by most wild bird species were little affected by H5N1 H5N1

In 2001 for the first time H5N1 was detected in In 2001 for the first time H5N1 was detected in the skeletal muscle of domestic Chinese duck the skeletal muscle of domestic Chinese duck meat signaling a meat signaling a change from LP to HPchange from LP to HP

Swayne: Waterbird conferenceSwayne: Waterbird conference 2002/3 found more wild & domestic ducks with 2002/3 found more wild & domestic ducks with HPHP H5N1H5N1 virus virus

2004 2004 HP H5N1HP H5N1 spread into other wild birds and even spread into other wild birds and even pigeons-(normally highly resistant) pigeons-(normally highly resistant)

2005 found in bar-headed geese, whooper swans, mute 2005 found in bar-headed geese, whooper swans, mute swans, others. Virus produced disease in all major swans, others. Virus produced disease in all major organs organs

In 8 years the virus had re-adapted to wild birds In 8 years the virus had re-adapted to wild birds became HPAI and became HPAI and produced diseaseproduced disease

Swayne: Waterbird conferenceSwayne: Waterbird conference

In 2005 the virus killed 6,500 bar-headed geese In 2005 the virus killed 6,500 bar-headed geese in Qinghai Lake in China and it is believed in Qinghai Lake in China and it is believed infected birds have carried virus > Mongolia & infected birds have carried virus > Mongolia & Tibet>Siberia>Russia>Northern & Southern Tibet>Siberia>Russia>Northern & Southern Europe >Africa, and > Indian sub-continent. Europe >Africa, and > Indian sub-continent.

““At present we do not know the frequency of At present we do not know the frequency of infections in wild birds or how many wild species infections in wild birds or how many wild species are affected demonstrating the need for world-are affected demonstrating the need for world-wide wide monitoringmonitoring and and surveillancesurveillance.”.”

SummarySummary: waterbird conference: waterbird conference

Many water bird populations are declining Many water bird populations are declining worldwideworldwide

Human activities may play an important Human activities may play an important role in the spread of avian diseases as role in the spread of avian diseases as H5N1 from domestic to wild birdsH5N1 from domestic to wild birds

Need to develop and promote international Need to develop and promote international collaborations on detection, monitoring, collaborations on detection, monitoring, and diagnosis of infected birds especially and diagnosis of infected birds especially in the area of H5N1 influenzain the area of H5N1 influenza

SummarySummary: waterbird conference: waterbird conference

Countries need to do extensive passive and Countries need to do extensive passive and active monitoring of wild birds for active monitoring of wild birds for H5N1 H5N1 and and other avian influenza’s.other avian influenza’s.

Prevent the Culling of wild birds and destruction Prevent the Culling of wild birds and destruction of their habitat of their habitat as it will lead to the increasing as it will lead to the increasing spread of H5N1spread of H5N1

BIOSECURITYBIOSECURITY practices are of the utmost practices are of the utmost importance in the prevention of disease importance in the prevention of disease transmission between transmission between domestic and wild bird domestic and wild bird populationspopulations

Protect our Feathered FriendsProtect our Feathered Friends

AI Surveillance- Wild & Domestic AI Surveillance- Wild & Domestic Birds in B.C.Birds in B.C.

Presently, no formal program of monitoring Presently, no formal program of monitoring domestic poultry in B.C. for AIdomestic poultry in B.C. for AI

SurveillanceSurveillance of of wild birdswild birds for AI in the for AI in the provinces with migratory flyways initiated provinces with migratory flyways initiated by CCWHC and CFIAby CCWHC and CFIA

Results for BCResults for BC: 369 of 704 Swabs AI : 369 of 704 Swabs AI Positive (52%); 174 were H5 viruses Positive (52%); 174 were H5 viruses (47%) classed as H5N2 (no H5N1!) (47%) classed as H5N2 (no H5N1!)

2006 Surveillance Program2006 Surveillance Program

a) Sample, test, and analyze 800 wild ducks a) Sample, test, and analyze 800 wild ducks from several lakes in BC in the Pacific from several lakes in BC in the Pacific migratory corridormigratory corridor

b) Survey of 800 healthy wild ducks in the Delta b) Survey of 800 healthy wild ducks in the Delta area of the Lower Fraser Valley. area of the Lower Fraser Valley.

c) Participate in the c) Participate in the National dead bird National dead bird surveillancesurveillance program of approx. 90+ wild birds program of approx. 90+ wild birds per month up to 2500-3000 total. per month up to 2500-3000 total.

d) Selective testing of 300+ crows submitted d) Selective testing of 300+ crows submitted during the WNV surveillance program 2006. during the WNV surveillance program 2006.

Surveillance Program Surveillance Program ObjectivesObjectives

Create an inventory of AI viruses that occur in Create an inventory of AI viruses that occur in species of wild birds in different areas across species of wild birds in different areas across CanadaCanada

Characterize these viruses to determine if they Characterize these viruses to determine if they are the source of future outbreaks in domestic are the source of future outbreaks in domestic animals or humansanimals or humans

Establish an archive of influenza strains that Establish an archive of influenza strains that would permit rapid retrospective analysis during would permit rapid retrospective analysis during a disease outbreaka disease outbreak

Surveillance Program ObjectivesSurveillance Program Objectives

Develop an Develop an “early warning system“early warning system”” for for determination of the presence of determination of the presence of H5N1 avian fluH5N1 avian flu in B.C. (and other provinces) in the event of in B.C. (and other provinces) in the event of introduction of the virus by wild birds. introduction of the virus by wild birds.

Increase rapid communications capability with Increase rapid communications capability with commercial, specialty, and hobby poultry commercial, specialty, and hobby poultry producers for the immediate enhancement of producers for the immediate enhancement of BIOSECURITYBIOSECURITY and other deterrent measures. and other deterrent measures.

Just Say NO to H5N1Just Say NO to H5N1

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Kim Cheng, Director of Agroecology Dr. Kim Cheng, Director of Agroecology Program, Faculty of land and Food Program, Faculty of land and Food Systems, UBCSystems, UBC

Mr. Stewart Paulson, Poultry Industry Mr. Stewart Paulson, Poultry Industry Development Specialist, Industry Development Specialist, Industry Competitiveness Branch, MALCompetitiveness Branch, MAL