Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia
In winter 2016/2017, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 was detected in backyard poultry in Serbia for the first time. The second HPAI outbreak case in backyard poultry was reported in 2022, caused by subtype H5N1. This is the first study that documents the laboratory identification an...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/700 |
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| author | Biljana Djurdjević Vladimir Polaček Marko Pajić Tamaš Petrović Ivana Vučićević Dejan Vidanović Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević |
| author_facet | Biljana Djurdjević Vladimir Polaček Marko Pajić Tamaš Petrović Ivana Vučićević Dejan Vidanović Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević |
| author_sort | Biljana Djurdjević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In winter 2016/2017, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 was detected in backyard poultry in Serbia for the first time. The second HPAI outbreak case in backyard poultry was reported in 2022, caused by subtype H5N1. This is the first study that documents the laboratory identification and pathology associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Serbia during the first and second introduction waves. In both cases, the diagnosis was based on real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. The most common observed lesions included subepicardial hemorrhages, congestion and hemorrhages in the lungs, and petechial hemorrhages in coelomic and epicardial adipose tissue. Histologically, the observed lesions were mostly nonpurulent encephalitis accompanied by encephalomalacia, multifocal necrosis in the spleen, pancreas, and kidneys, pulmonary congestion, and myocardial and pulmonary hemorrhages. In H5N8-infected chickens, immunohistochemical examination revealed strong positive IHC staining in the brain and lungs. Following these outbreaks, strict control measures were implemented on farms and backyard holdings to prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease. Extensive surveillance of birds for avian influenza virus did not detect any additional cases in poultry. These outbreaks highlight the importance of a rapid detection and response system in order to quickly suppress outbreaks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e81bfcae9f254876bd127c46b62334d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:16:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e81bfcae9f254876bd127c46b62334d52023-11-16T18:40:20ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-02-0113470010.3390/ani13040700Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in SerbiaBiljana Djurdjević0Vladimir Polaček1Marko Pajić2Tamaš Petrović3Ivana Vučićević4Dejan Vidanović5Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević6Department of Epizootiology, Clinical diagnostics and DDD, Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaDepartment of Epizootiology, Clinical diagnostics and DDD, Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaDepartment of Epizootiology, Clinical diagnostics and DDD, Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaDepartment of Virology, Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaVeterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 36000 Kraljevo, SerbiaDepartment of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, SerbiaIn winter 2016/2017, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 was detected in backyard poultry in Serbia for the first time. The second HPAI outbreak case in backyard poultry was reported in 2022, caused by subtype H5N1. This is the first study that documents the laboratory identification and pathology associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Serbia during the first and second introduction waves. In both cases, the diagnosis was based on real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. The most common observed lesions included subepicardial hemorrhages, congestion and hemorrhages in the lungs, and petechial hemorrhages in coelomic and epicardial adipose tissue. Histologically, the observed lesions were mostly nonpurulent encephalitis accompanied by encephalomalacia, multifocal necrosis in the spleen, pancreas, and kidneys, pulmonary congestion, and myocardial and pulmonary hemorrhages. In H5N8-infected chickens, immunohistochemical examination revealed strong positive IHC staining in the brain and lungs. Following these outbreaks, strict control measures were implemented on farms and backyard holdings to prevent the occurrence and spread of the disease. Extensive surveillance of birds for avian influenza virus did not detect any additional cases in poultry. These outbreaks highlight the importance of a rapid detection and response system in order to quickly suppress outbreaks.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/700avian influenzabackyardchickensH5N8H5N1immunohistochemistry |
| spellingShingle | Biljana Djurdjević Vladimir Polaček Marko Pajić Tamaš Petrović Ivana Vučićević Dejan Vidanović Sanja Aleksić-Kovačević Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia Animals avian influenza backyard chickens H5N8 H5N1 immunohistochemistry |
| title | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia |
| title_full | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia |
| title_fullStr | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia |
| title_short | Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Outbreak in Backyard Chickens in Serbia |
| title_sort | highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n8 outbreak in backyard chickens in serbia |
| topic | avian influenza backyard chickens H5N8 H5N1 immunohistochemistry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/4/700 |
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