VETERINARY MEDICINE

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Browsing VETERINARY MEDICINE by Author "ADACHE, Anthony Stephen"

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    SURVEY FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA, NEWCASTLE AND GUMBORO DISEASE ANTIBODIES AND BIOSECURITY PRACTICES IN LIVE BIRD MARKETS IN ABUJA
    (2012-09) ADACHE, Anthony Stephen
    Poultry is a major source of protein in most parts of the world. Trade in poultry and poultry product is a source of livelihood of millions of Nigerians. However, the outbreak of Avian Influenza (AI) in Nigeria increased disease constraint in addition to Newcastle and Gumboro diseases. Live bird markets (LBMs) have been attributed as a mixing point of poultry from different households with increased likelihood of cross infection. The study assessed Avian Influenza, Newcastle and Gumboro diseases antibodies status of poultry in Abuja LBMs by Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) and Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) tests respectively. Biosecurity practices were also assessed through administration of standard questionnaires. Prevalence and mean titre for avian influenza were 65.3% and 10.40±0.94 log2, respectively. Newcastle disease mean antibody titre was 5.91±0.27 log2 with prevalence of 64.3%. Gumboro disease prevalence was 69.8%. Among species tested, duck had the highest avian influenza prevalence of 84 % and chicken prevalence was 63.3%. Pigeons and turkeys have been exposed to Gumboro disease virus with chickens having Newcastle disease prevalence of 63.8 %. All the species had avian influenza antibodies titre ≥ 7log2 except guinea fowl. Garki Area I LBM had the highest avian influenza prevalence of 87.9 % with Garki II new extension market having the lowest prevalence of 22.2 %. Fowl sellers engaged in risky practices such as stacking of cages. Sixty four percent (64.6%) of fowl sellers use sick poultry for food, 33.3% sell sick poultry, 29.2% throw away offal and only 20.8% bury dead poultry. Furthermore, 37.4% knew none of avian influenza signs though 69.8% were knowledgeable on its mode of transmission. Nonetheless, 90.0% poultry sellers would report avian influenza outbreak to Veterinarians. Poultry in Abuja LBMs are mainly local birds and have been exposed to avian influenza virus and are not protected - 8 - from Gumboro disease and Newcastle disease outbreaks which might be confused with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The exposure of poultry to avian influenza antigen is recent with the likelihood of them shedding the virus at high levels. The risk of ducks spreading infection to household local chickens is high as local poultry farmers get breeding stock from LBMs. Fowl sellers engage in risky practices likely to expose them and poultry to avian influenza virus. There is need to undertake avian influenza viral surveillance in all LBMs in Abuja and better articulate avian influenza risks to fowl sellers. There are no significant biosecurity measures employed by the LBMs in Abuja and this could be a source of disease outbreak in poultry, poultry sellers and handlers as well as the general public. - 9 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Title-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i