Avian influenza

(Bird Flu / Fowl Plague)

Benha University
College of Veterinary Medicine

Shawky Ahmed Moustafa

2016
 Avian influenza
Avian influenza (AI) is a viral disease that
ranges from asymptomatic infections to acute,
fatal infections of chickens, turkeys, guinea
fowl, waterfowl and other avian species and is
caused by a type A influenza virus of the
family Orthomyxoviridae
 Avian influenza-
• Virus is named according to the antigenic type (surface glycoproteins
hemagglutinin 1-15 and neuraminidase 1-9), e.g. H5N2
• Highly pathogenic H5 and H7 strains of AI are OIE List A diseases
• Hong Kong (1997): First documented case of direct human infection with
avian influenza virus (H5N1)
• Asian outbreak of HPAI H5N1; 79 human fatalities in 2006
 Etiology
Family Orthomyxoviridae
Genus Influenzavirus

Types A ► Man, Horse, Pig, Bird

B ► Man
C ► Man

Subtypes 15 HA + 1
9 NA
Viral properties

Viral RNA

Heamagglutinin –15 + 1
Neuraminidase - 9
Inter species Transmission
 The Muscovy Ducks
Natural Reservoir

http://www.domestic-waterfowl.co.uk/mozzie.htm

2006 Avian Influenza

 Pathogenesis
Hemagglutinin (HA):
Attachment to cell surface receptors;
hemagglutinating activity
The hemagglutinin gene is the primary
determinant of high pathogenicity in chickens
Neuraminidase (NA):
Responsible for release of virus by cells via
action on neuraminic acid
 Pathogenesis
Transmission:
Virus excreted from respiratory tract,
conjunctiva, feces
Direct and indirect contact (aerosol,
contaminated fomites)
Wild birds (esp. ducks) are the primary source
for domestic poultry
 Types of Avian Influenza

• Mild form – Low Pathogenic Avian influenza (LPAI)

e.g. H9N2 - Variant
2) Sever form (100% Mortality) – Highly pathogenic
Avian influenza (HPAI)
– Mostly H5 & H7 subtypes.
e.g. H5N1
 Types of Avian Influenza
Low pathogenic AI: Replication usually limited to
respiratory or intestinal tracts; occasionally
systemically spreads, replicating and damaging
renal tubular epithelium, pancreatic acinar
epithelium and other types of epithelial cells that
contain trypsin-like enzymes
 Highly pathogenic AI:
Two methods of spread:
Virions invade submucosal capillaries > replicate
in endothelial cells > spread via lymphatic or
vascular system to a variety of cell types in visceral
organs, brain, and skin
AI virus causes damage by direct replication in
cells, tissues and organs, through indirect effects
from production of cytokines and other cellular
mediators, and from ischemia due to vascular
thrombosis
 Clinical Signs
• Usually associated with respiratory, reproductive,
digestive and nervous systems
• May include depression, lethargy, decreased egg
production, coughing, sneezing, lacrimation, ruffled
feathers, edema of the head and face, cyanosis of
unfeathered skin, and diarrhea
• Highly pathogenic strains: Sudden death without signs
of illness; nervous disorders (i.e., head and neck
tremors, inability to stand, torticollis, opisthotonus)
 Clinical Signs
• Incubation period: 3-14 days
• Birds found dead
• Drop in egg production
• Neurological signs
• Depression, anorexia,
ruffled feathers
• Combs swollen, cyanotic
• Conjunctivitis and respiratory signs
Clinical Signs
•Severe depression
•Decreased food and water consumption
•Drastic decline in egg production
•Many birds affected

2006 Avian Influenza

 Turkeys with Avian Influenza

cvm.umn.edu

Many birds are depressed and huddling

2006 Avian Influenza

Clinical Signs
•Dehydration
•Huddling
•Subcutaneous swelling of the head and neck
area
•Nasal and oral cavity discharge

2006 Avian Influenza

 Note swollen head, and discharges.
Wattle is cyanotic and necrotic.

2006 Avian Influenza

2006 Avian Influenza
Clinical Signs

Huddling

2006 Avian Influenza

Clinical Signs

•Ruffled feathers
•Swollen, cyanotic (blue) combs and
wattles
•Conjunctivitis with respiratory signs

2006 Avian Influenza

 Ruffled feathers

Respiratory Symptoms

2006 Avian Influenza

2006 Avian Influenza
 Swollen blue, cyanotic combs and wattles

2006 Avian Influenza

Swollen blue, cyanotic combs and wattles

2006 Avian Influenza

 Clinical Signs

• Edema/necrosis of comb/wattle
• Cyanosis

2006 Avian Influenza

 HPAI - Cyanotic comb of an infected chicken
on the left compared to a normal chicken on the right.

2006 Avian Influenza

 Clinical Signs

• Subcutaneous hemorrhage
of shanks

2006 Avian Influenza

 Subcutaneous hemorrhage of shanks

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhage of the shanks and hocks

2006 Avian Influenza

Clinical Signs

• Neurological signs (Nervous signs) Similar to Exotic

Newcastle Disease

2006 Avian Influenza

2006 Avian Influenza
 Neurological signs

2006 Avian Influenza

 Neurological signs
Cyanosis
Ruffled feathers

2006 Avian Influenza

 Neurological signs
Hemorrhages on shanks
Ruffled feathers
2006 Avian Influenza
 Clinical Signs

•Coughing
•Sneezing
•Diarrhea
•Sudden death

2006 Avian Influenza

 Clinical Signs

I. Capua D. Halvorson

Huddling
Sinusitis
Respiratory signs

Avian Influenza D. Halvorson

2006 Avian Influenza
 Clinical Signs

•Sudden onset and high mortality

•Birds found dead

2006 Avian Influenza Dennis Senne, 2005

 Post Mortem Lesions

•Mildly to moderately pathogenic strains:

Catarrhal to fibrinous tracheitis, air sacculitis, peritonitis
and enteritis; catarrhal to caseous sinusitis
 Post Mortem Lesions
•Highly pathogenic strains: Edema of the head; sinusitis;
• cyanotic, congested and hemorrhagic wattles, combs, conjunctiva
and legs;
• petechiae on the inside of the keel, abdominal fat, serosal
surfaces and peritoneum;
• hemorrhage in ovary, intestinal mucosa, and proventricular
mucosa (especially at ventricular junction);
• yellow to red mottled pancreas
 Post Mortem Lesions
Lesions may be absent
with sudden death

2006 Avian Influenza

http://www.avian-influenza-disinfectant.com/avian_influenza.htm
 Lesions

•Head and neck edema

•Swollen and cyanotic combs and wattles

•Petechial hemorrhages on internal membrane

surfaces

2006 Avian Influenza

2006 Avian Influenza
 Lesions

•Excessive mucous exudate in the lumen of

the trachea, or severe hemorrhagic tracheitis

•Petechiae on the inside of the sternum, on

the serosa and abdominal fat, serosal
surfaces and in the body cavity

2006 Avian Influenza

 Lesions
HPAI - Opened swollen wattle.

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhages and edema

2006 Avian Influenza

 Edema

2006 Avian Influenza

 Petechial hemorrhages on
internal membrane surfaces

2006 Avian Influenza

 Lesions

Hemorrhages of the trachea

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhages of the trachea

2006 Avian Influenza

2006 Avian Influenza
 Lung hemorrhage and edema

2006 Avian Influenza

 Note hemorrhages and edema around the heart

2006 Avian Influenza

 Lesions

• Hemorrhages on the mucosal surface of the

proventriculus, particularly at the juncture with the
gizzard
• Hemorrhages and erosions of the gizzard lining
• Hemorrhagic foci on the lymphoid tissues in the
intestinal mucosa

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhages of
the intestine

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhages on the
mucosal surface of
the
proventriculus,
particularly
at the juncture with
the gizzard
2006 Avian Influenza
 Hemorrhage in intestinal
serosa, mucosa

2006 Avian Influenza

 Hemorrhagic foci on the lymphoid
tissues in the intestinal mucosa
2006 Avian Influenza
Lesions
Severe congestion of the musculature

2006 Avian Influenza

 Lesions
•Severe kidney congestion, sometimes with
urate deposits in the tubules

•Hemorrhages and degeneration of the ovary

2006 Avian Influenza

 Post Mortem Lesions

• Lesions may be absent with sudden death

• Severe congestion of the musculature
• Dehydration
• Subcutaneous edema of head and neck area
Swollen Head-Conjunctivitis
Cyanosis

Edema

Swelling
 Pin point
hemorrhage
on Heart

Pin point
hemorrhage on
Trachea
Pin point hemorrhage
on mesentery &
Intestine

Fibrin clot in
the sinus
Haemorrhages
of the intestine
Tracheal Lesions
Egg peritonitis
Proventriculus Lesions
Salpingitis
 Microscopic Findings
• Edema, congestion, hemorrhage, perivascular lymphoid
cuffing, and necrosis in the myocardium, spleen, lungs,
brain, wattles, liver, kidney, pancreas, skeletal muscle,
and lymphoid necrosis
• Inclusion bodies are not typical of influenza in any
species; eosinophilic, intranuclear inclusions in islet cells
were noted in the 1983-84 Pennsylvania outbreak
(attributed to sequestration of viral proteins in the
nucleus)