Detection of antibodies against H5 subtype of Avian influenza in the egg yolks of native ducks in Gilan province, Iran, 2020.

Avian influenza disease is one of the most significant contagious diseases that can infect many birds, either in commercial farms or in indigenous birds. There have been many reports on the highly pathogenic H5 subtype of avian influenza outbreaks from Iran's industrial poultry farms in recent years. Anseriformes, as the main reservoir of the virus, play a critical role in the epidemiology of the disease. This study was conducted to detect antibodies against the H5 subtype of avian influenza viruses in the yolk of native ducks. Seventy duck eggs were collected from different cities of Gilan province (Rasht, Anzali, SoomeSara, Fuman, Astaneh Ashrafie, Langroud und Chaboksar) from April to September of 2020. The aquatic phase of eggs was separate and subjected to the OIE approved HI standard test using H5 specific antigen. 11.43% of tested samples showed antibodies against the H5 subtype of influenza virus. This study demonstrates the circulation of the H5 subtype viruses among the native duck population of the north of Iran.