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Front Vet Sci. 2018 Feb 13;5:15. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00015. eCollection 2018.
Airborne Detection of H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Genome in Poultry Farms, France.
Scoizec A1, Niqueux E2, Thomas R1, Daniel P3, Schmitz A2, Le Bouquin S1.
Author information
Abstract
In southwestern France, during the winter of 2016-2017, the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 outbreaks despite the implementation of routine control measures, raised the question about the potential role of airborne transmission in viral spread. As a first step to investigate the plausibility of that transmission, air samples were collected inside, outside and downwind from infected duck and chicken facilities. H5 avian influenza virus RNA was detected in all samples collected inside poultry houses, at external exhaust fans and at 5 m distance from poultry houses. For three of the five flocks studied, in the sample collected at 50-110 m distance, viral genomic RNA was detected. The measured viral air concentrations ranged between 4.3 and 6.4 log10 RNA copies per m3, and their geometric mean decreased from external exhaust fans to the downwind measurement point. These findings are in accordance with the possibility of airborne transmission and question the procedures for outbreak depopulation.
KEYWORDS:
H5N8; airborne; avian influenza; chickens; clade 2.3.4.4; ducks; highly pathogenic avian influenza; transmission
PMID: 29487857 PMCID: PMC5816786 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00015
Airborne Detection of H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Genome in Poultry Farms, France.
Scoizec A1, Niqueux E2, Thomas R1, Daniel P3, Schmitz A2, Le Bouquin S1.
Author information
Abstract
In southwestern France, during the winter of 2016-2017, the rapid spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 outbreaks despite the implementation of routine control measures, raised the question about the potential role of airborne transmission in viral spread. As a first step to investigate the plausibility of that transmission, air samples were collected inside, outside and downwind from infected duck and chicken facilities. H5 avian influenza virus RNA was detected in all samples collected inside poultry houses, at external exhaust fans and at 5 m distance from poultry houses. For three of the five flocks studied, in the sample collected at 50-110 m distance, viral genomic RNA was detected. The measured viral air concentrations ranged between 4.3 and 6.4 log10 RNA copies per m3, and their geometric mean decreased from external exhaust fans to the downwind measurement point. These findings are in accordance with the possibility of airborne transmission and question the procedures for outbreak depopulation.
KEYWORDS:
H5N8; airborne; avian influenza; chickens; clade 2.3.4.4; ducks; highly pathogenic avian influenza; transmission
PMID: 29487857 PMCID: PMC5816786 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00015