1National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, ICAR-Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
2Division of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, CoVSc, and AHRewa, NDVSU, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: HV Murugkar; E-mail: harshadmurugkar@gmail.com
Online published on 27 May, 2021.
A cross sectional study was carried out to know the status of H9N2 LPAI virus in retail poultry shops (RPSs) established in live bird markets (LBMs) of eastern Madhya Pradesh, India. A total 288 samples were collected from 4 districts of eastern Madhya Pradesh following cluster sampling method. Samples included 120 tissue samples and 168 environmental samples of live bird markets. All the samples were analysed for virus isolation by embryonated chicken egg inoculation, Hemagglutination (HA), Hemagglutination Inhibition (HI) and Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RTPCR). A prevalence of 9.2% was found in tissue samples and that of 20.8% was found in pooled environmental samples. Out of four districts in the study, samples from three districts were found positive for H9N2 AIV. A strong positive correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = 0.92) was found between tissue and environmental samples. This study indicated presence and possible spread of H9N2 AIV in these LBMs. These LBMs might impose risk of acquiring infection to occupationally exposed individuals. Therefore, a proper vigilance is needed over the poultry supply chain especially the poultry retail shops along with general awareness about basic biosecurity measures for prevention and control of H9N2 infection.
HIGHLIGHTS
LBM of Eastern Madhya Pradesh Showed positivity to H9N2 AIV in Birds and Environment.
Slaughter waste and LBM surfaces may act as a source of Infections to incoming birds.
Silent presence of H9N2 virus may lead to emergence of new virus with zoonotic potential.
H9N2, Prevalence, Retail Poultry Shops, Prevalence, Live bird markets, Risk Factors
