Screening test for avian influenza virus antigen in poultry in Mosul

Rapid avian influenza virus antigen test kit and rapid H5 avian influenza virus antigen test kit were used to detect avian influenza antigens by examine 1143 samples taken from broilers, layers, house chickens, local poultry markets and poultry slaughters houses in period from January to December 2007 in Mosul city. Cloacae feces swab method was used for all samples and results showed that all tested samples were negative for both AIV and H5 antigens. In conclusion Mosul city was free from avian influenza virus till Dec 2007 and this test is rapid, easy and a reliable field test and can be done frequently.


Introduction
Avian influenza disease (AID) is a zoontic viral disease caused by avian influenza virus (AIV) type A which is classified under the family orthomyxoviridae (1).The virus varies widely in its pathogenecity and its ability to spread among the birds, which usually act as carriers, and some strains of (AIV) cause fever, illness or death in poultry (2,3).H 5 N 1 has been proved to be more virulent and caused 100% morbidity and mortality in poultry (4).This subtype H 5 N 1 found to be associated with death in human creating aserious public health concern (5).
This study was carried out to detect the presence of AIV Ags in chickens in Mosul city which can be considered as reservoir or carrier of most subtypes of AIV (6).

Materials and methods
Sampling: cloacae fecal samples were taken from poultry (broilers, layers, house chickens, local poultry markets and poultry slaughters house) at total number of 1143 samples during January till December 2007 in Mosul city.

Detection of Avian Influenza virus antigen:
1-Avian influenza virus antigen test kit (Antigen animal genetics, Inc.Korea) which contains: -Rapid AIV antigen test devices.
-sample collection tubes containing 1 ml of assay diluents.
Cloacae fecal swab method was used by inserting the swab inside the cloacae several times then insert the swab into the sample collection tube containing assay diluents.Then mixing until the sample has been dissolved in the assay diluents, and left the tube until the large particles have settled down in the bottom of the tube (approximately 1 minute).Then five drops of supernatant was taken by disposable dropper and added to the sample hole on the test device.As the test begins to work, purple color will move across the result window in the center of the test device and the interpretation of the results at 30 minutes in comparison with positive control according to the kit manufacturer instructions.
Positive result indicate presence of AIV antigen type A only.

2-Anigen rapid H 5 Avian Influenza virus antigen test kit:-
The same method mentioned above using (AIV) antigen against H 5 only according to kit manufacturing instruction (Antigen animal genetics, Inc.Korea)

Results
All tested samples in both types of kit for (AIV) type A and H 5 antigen were negative in all source of testing samples (Table 1).

Discussion
Avian influenza disease is well known as very dangerous disease in poultry (7).The subtype H 5 N 1 was proved to be the most virulent in poultry and human (5).There fore it is very important to check the appearance of this disease in poultry before it becomes a source of infection in human, especially as other subtype (H 9 N 2 ) of AIV was isolated in Iraq (8)(9).Other studies were done in Mosul and detect (AIV) antibodies in poultry serum (10)(11) which indicated that 78% examined serum were positive against H 9 N 2 in poultry and 81.8% in pigeons respectively.In this study rapid AIV antigen test kit was used which is chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of (AIV) type A. In this kit selected AIV antibodies were used as both capture and detector materials to identify (AIV) Ags in avian with high degree of accuracy as well as Anigen rapid H 5 (AIV) Ag test kit to detect only H 5 which is till now not detectable in Mosul city as this study was the first study in Mosul to detectable AIV Ag using these types of rapid tests which can be used as screening tests that it is easy, reliable and its interpretation need not more than thirty minutes when the reaction colour change to purple in positive result and remain no change in negative result according to the coloured positive and negative control provided with the kits information.

Table 1 :
Results of avian influenza virus antigens detection