Epidemiological and serological identification of avian influenza in middle Egypt | ||
| New Valley Veterinary Journal | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 22 May 2025 PDF (2.15 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/nvvj.2025.375259.1077 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohamed Khames Mohamed* 1; Mostafa Abd elmotilub Shahata2; Mohamed shaker Abd El Hafez3; Mahmoud Hashem Mohamed4; Mohamed Adel Soliman5 | ||
| 1Poultry and rabbit medicine faculty of veterinary medicine New valley university kharga Egypt | ||
| 2Avian and rabbit medicine faculty of veterinary medicine Assiut university Assiut Egypt | ||
| 3Avian and rabbit medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University kharga Egypt | ||
| 4Aquatic animal medicine department, faculty of veterinary medicine , new valley university kharga Egypt | ||
| 5Department of Poultry and fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Avian influenza virus (AIV), particularly the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, remains a significant threat to poultry production and public health worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of H5N1 infections in chicken farms across Middle Egypt from January 2023 to December 2024. A total of 25 poultry farms exhibiting high mortality rates (25–80%) and respiratory symptoms were included. Clinical examination revealed sudden onset of severe disease, with postmortem findings including tracheitis, pneumonia, nephritis, and lymphoid atrophy. Tracheal and lung samples were collected for virological and molecular analysis. Virus isolation in specific pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs (SPF-ECE) yielded positive hemagglutination (HA) titers (5–7 log₂), confirming the presence of HPAI H5N1. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the matrix (M) and hemagglutinin (H5) genes identified four positive samples (500-bp amplicon). Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests detected high antibody titers in vaccinated flocks, suggesting partial protection, while unvaccinated farms experienced significantly higher mortality (50–80%). These findings highlight the endemic persistence of H5N1 in Egypt, with continued viral evolution posing challenges to disease control. The study underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, updated vaccine strategies, and improved biosecurity measures to mitigate economic losses and zoonotic risks. Given the role of wild birds in viral transmission, interdisciplinary efforts are essential for long-term prevention. This research contributes to the understanding of H5N1 epidemiology in Egypt and informs future intervention strategies. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| H5N1; poultry farms; Egypt; RT-PCR; viral isolation | ||
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