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Differential diagnosis of sudden high mortality in poultry and game birds
Author(s) -
McMullin Paul
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.28.6.306
Subject(s) - influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , outbreak , highly pathogenic , china , geography , socioeconomics , veterinary medicine , medicine , virology , virus , economics , archaeology
MAJOR outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred in a number of countries over the past few years. The Asian H5N1 strain, much in the news, emerged in geese in the Guangdong province of China in 1996, and was first associated with human infection in Hong Kong in 1997. In 2005/06, it spread westwards to Eurasia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It has been associated with mortality in wild birds, village chickens and, in some countries, commercial poultry, and presents a significant threat to poultry and game bird producers. Sudden increased mortality in poultry and game birds is a likely presenting complaint in cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza. This article reviews the differential diagnosis of sudden high mortality in these species.