Serosurveillance on the presence of avian influenza virus subtype (h5n1)‎ antibodies in egyptian swine

Abstract EN

Since 1996 a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus is causing outbreaks in poultry.

The disease was started in Southeast Asia and spread later to at least 65 countries worldwide involving Egypt.

Although pigs play an important epidemiological and ecological role in adaptation of the avian influenza virus to bind to human cell receptors and act as mixing vehicles during co-infection, yet very little data are available about natural infections with avian influenza virus in swine.

In the present work the incidence of H5N1 infection among Egyptian pigs was investigated.

Serum samples were collected from 235 pigs and examined using Hemagglutination Inhibition Test (HI) where 26 serum samples yielded positive results against the local H5N1 antigen.

The present work could be considered the first report of avian influenza natural infections among swine outside Southeast Asia.