Seroepidemiology of Avian Influenza (H9N2) in Rural Domestic Poultry of Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Influenza is an acute، contagious، and zoonotic viral disease. It is caused by a virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. This very infectious is caused by different subtypes of type A influenza virus in the poultry، turkey، and many other birds. In this study، the serum status of rural domestic poultry was investigated for influenza subtype H9N2. This cross sectional study was done from August to October in 2013 in Iranian villages through sampling domestic poultry. The sampling was accidental and was done based on the GIS 11-digit code. In each village، blood samples were taken from at least 28 birds from different species. Then، ELISA was used for screening followed by the HI test. A total of 397 villages and 11546 birds (10145 chickens، 1413 ducks، 397 turkeys، 10 pigeons، and 175 other species) were sampled. Three hindered and forty nine (88%) out of 397 villages were positive on ELISA. In addition، 341 villages (86%) were positive and 56 (14%) were negative on the HI test for antibody titers. Also، among the considered variables، weather was a risk factor and the prevalence was significantly lower in villages near the rivers، lagoons and lakes (up to a radius of 3 Km). The high seroprevalence of influenza H9N2 in rural domestic poultry indicates that the disease is becoming endemic. As there is no eradication policy for influenza H9N2 in Iran، using effective vaccines can reduce the infection with influenza virus in domestic and rural poultry.