Avian influenza surveillance at the human-animal interface in Lebanon, 2017.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Sirawan A; Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon.; Berry A; Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon.; Badra R; Human Link, Hazmieh, Lebanon.; El Bazzal B; Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon.; Dabaja M; Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, Bir Hassan, Jnah, Beirut, Lebanon.; Kataya H; Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon.; Kandeil A; Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.; Gomaa MR; Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.; Ali M; Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.; Faculty of Biotechnology, October University of Modern Sciences and Arts, Cairo, Egypt.; Kayali G; Human Link, Hazmieh, Lebanon.; Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, United States of America.
- Source
- Publisher: Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization Country of Publication: Egypt NLM ID: 9608387 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1687-1634 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10203397 NLM ISO Abbreviation: East Mediterr Health J Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
Background: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) cause severe diseases in poultry and humans. In Lebanon, AIV H9N2 was detected in 2006 and 2010 and H5N1 was detected in 2016.
Aim: To evaluate the current circulating AIVs in Lebanon at the human-animal interface.
Methods: A total of 1000 swabs were collected from poultry from 7 Lebanese governorates between March and June 2017. Swabs were screened for influenza infection. Haemagglutinin and neuraminidase AIV subtypes were determined for positive samples. Gene segments were cloned and sequenced. Blood was collected from 69 exposed individuals. Serological studies were performed to test sera for antibodies against AIV.
Results: In chickens, 0.6% were positive for AIV H9N2. Sequences obtained clustered tightly with those of Israeli origin as well as Lebanese H9N2 viruses from 2010. All human samples tested negative.
Conclusion: We recommend regular surveillance for AIVs in poultry using a One Health approach.
(Copyright © World Health Organization (WHO) 2020. Open Access. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo).)