Domestic Ducks As Potential Reservoir Of Avian Influenza Virus In Post HPAI H5n1i Outbreak Area, Sunyani Municipality, Brong Ahafo Region

Abstract

BACKGROUND From July 2009 to October 2010, we conducted a cross sectional study in ducks in nine randomly selected farms in the Sunyani Municipality, The study was done to determine whether the AI virus infection that was reported in the area in May 2007, was circulating silently in ducks or not. The sample size was calculated using Epi info version 3.4.1 at 95% confidence level, absolute precision of 5% and assuming 0.5 prevalence of Avian Influenza A virus in ducks in the study area using the formula N=z’ p (1-p/@? Approval for the study was obtained from the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control of the School of Public Health and the Scientific Technical Committee of NMIMR. A written informed consent was obtained from ducks farmers and other stakeholders. Samples collection was done simultaneously with questionnaire administration to farmers. We collected a total of 526 samples made up of 384 cloacal swabs and 142 feather tissues from 384 ducks. Samples were collected from a commercial duck farm, seven backyard holdings and one live birds market in six randomly selected communities in the Sunyani Municipality. All the 526 samples were duly processed and subjected to Influenza Type A Matrix Gene analysis using RRT-PCR.

All samples tested were negative for Influenza Type A viruses. However, we observed that biosecurity practices which are key to reintroduction of the virus in the area were not adhered to in 89 %( 8/9) of the sites investigated. Our finding revealed that only the commercial farm investigated in this study complied with fifteen (78.9%) of the nineteen different farm practices observed.

There was no evidence that domestic ducks in the study area are serving as silent reservoir of Influenza Type A viruses. However, if nothing is done to immediately stop the increasing deterioration of bio-security and farm management practices, reintroduction of the AI virus into the area is just a matter of time. Therefore, there is the need for continuos surveillance and education of stakeholders on standard bio security and farm management practices in the area.