Prevalence of Avian Influenza viruses in Northern Zambia
type: CreativeWork
description: This study described the prevalence of avian influenza viruses in wild waterfowl and domestic birds on the wetlands of Northern Zambia (Luapula and Northern Provinces). The purpose of the research was to establish if there are any influenza viruses circulating in this region in order to determine the level of risk Zambia faces as a country. However, the wild migratory waterfowl were also investigated for Newcastle disease viruses since these birds are known to be carriers of orthomyxoviruses and paramyxoviruses. The study was motivated by lack of information about influenza viruses, migratory bird activities and presence of free-range poultry on the wetlands of Northern Zambia. Four types of birds were investigated, namely wild migratory ducks and geese, village chickens and domestic ducks. Cloacal, tracheal swabs and faecal samples were examined in the Biosafety level-3 laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia. A total of 294 paired cloacal and 294 paired tracheal swabs were collected from hunted wild migratory waterfowl around the wetlands of Bangweulu, Mweru and Tanganyika Lakes in Northern Zambia. In addition, a total of 448 paired cloacal and 448 paired tracheal swabs were collected from village chickens and domestic ducks in the study area. Furthermore, a total of 2,500 fresh environmental faecal samples were collected of which 2,000 were from wild migratory waterfowl and 500 from village chickens and domestic ducks. Avian influenza virus subtypes and Newcastle Disease virus were isolated by egg inoculations. These viruses were characterised by Haemagglutination, Haemagglutination inhibition and Neuraminidase inhibition tests. The major findings include the isolation of one H6N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/1/11), one H9N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/2/11) and one H6N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/3/11) subtypes of avian influenza virus from two faecal samples of Knob-billed ducks (Sarkidiornis melanotos) on the Bangweulu wetlands of Zambia. However, isolat…
abstract: This study described the prevalence of avian influenza viruses in wild waterfowl and domestic birds on the wetlands of Northern Zambia (Luapula and Northern Provinces). The purpose of the research was to establish if there are any influenza viruses circulating in this region in order to determine the level of risk Zambia faces as a country. However, the wild migratory waterfowl were also investigated for Newcastle disease viruses since these birds are known to be carriers of orthomyxoviruses and paramyxoviruses. The study was motivated by lack of information about influenza viruses, migratory bird activities and presence of free-range poultry on the wetlands of Northern Zambia. Four types of birds were investigated, namely wild migratory ducks and geese, village chickens and domestic ducks. Cloacal, tracheal swabs and faecal samples were examined in the Biosafety level-3 laboratory in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia. A total of 294 paired cloacal and 294 paired tracheal swabs were collected from hunted wild migratory waterfowl around the wetlands of Bangweulu, Mweru and Tanganyika Lakes in Northern Zambia. In addition, a total of 448 paired cloacal and 448 paired tracheal swabs were collected from village chickens and domestic ducks in the study area. Furthermore, a total of 2,500 fresh environmental faecal samples were collected of which 2,000 were from wild migratory waterfowl and 500 from village chickens and domestic ducks. Avian influenza virus subtypes and Newcastle Disease virus were isolated by egg inoculations. These viruses were characterised by Haemagglutination, Haemagglutination inhibition and Neuraminidase inhibition tests. The major findings include the isolation of one H6N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/1/11), one H9N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/2/11) and one H6N2 (A/duck/Bangweulu/3/11) subtypes of avian influenza virus from two faecal samples of Knob-billed ducks (Sarkidiornis melanotos) on the Bangweulu wetlands of Zambia. However, isolat…
author: Phiri, Bruno S.J.
language: en
keywords: Avian Influenza---Zambia, Poultry---Virus Diseases
date published: 2012-11-02
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:06:18Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zambia