Some Studies on Avian Influenza in Chickens

Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious respiratory viral disease of global importance. Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry and their threatening zoonotic consequences emphasize the need for diagnosis and effective control measures. A unique highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus lineage first emerged in China in 1996 and in the last 5 years has become widespread affecting poultry, wild birds, and humans in Asia, Europe and Africa. HPAI H5N1 virus was first recognized in February 2006 to cause serious disease outbreaks in Egypt and the virus has become enzootic in poultry all over the country causing enormous losses. That necessitates continuous monitoring to the antigenic shift and/or drifts in AI strains in the poultry farms and including one or more of Avian influenza isolated strains in the currently used AI vaccines.