Abstract

During extreme months of winter, December and January, every year, the migratory birds from Siberia travel to Indus Valley and other parts of Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. These migratory birds include, ducks, geese, swans and the water fowls. These birds are known to carry all avian influenza viruses and by shedding virus, they are assumed to be vector. Samples were collected from migratory and non migratory wild birds at lakes, zoo and live bird market. Samples were processed in the National Reference Laboratory of Poultry Diseases, National Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Islamabad for virus isolation, HI and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the detection of H3, H5, H7 and H9 serotypes of avian influenza virus type A. It was concluded that migratory birds flying over the Pakistan territorywere negative against H3, H5 and H7. However, positive samples for H9 serotype were found in backyard poultry.

Key words: Antibodies, avian influenza, hemagglutination inhibition, migratory birds, RT-PCR, surveillance.

Abbreviation

 AIV, Avian influenza virus; HI, hemagglutination-inhibition; RT-PCR,reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; GMT, geometric mean titre.