Wildlife DiseaseWildlife Disease

Avian InfluenzaAvian InfluenzaJohn F. Corbett, IIIJohn F. Corbett, III

Bio. 335-Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Bio. 335-Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Keystone CollegeKeystone College

Feb. 18, 2010Feb. 18, 2010

Diseases, Pathogens and Diseases, Pathogens and

Parasites- Parasites- OverviewOverview DiseaseDisease- any departure from health; - any departure from health;

destructive process in an organism with a destructive process in an organism with a specific cause and symptoms.specific cause and symptoms.

Disease agentsDisease agents can be physical, chemical or can be physical, chemical or biological factors that cause a disease.biological factors that cause a disease.

PathogenPathogen- disease causing biological agent.- disease causing biological agent. Pathogens and parasites encompass a wide Pathogens and parasites encompass a wide

variety of organisms, including viruses, variety of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoan's, fungi and bacteria, protozoan's, fungi and heminthsheminths--parasitic worms.parasitic worms.

Some are external, while others are internalSome are external, while others are internal

Diseases, Pathogens and Diseases, Pathogens and

Parasites- Parasites- ConcernConcern Possibility of disease outbreaks in wild Possibility of disease outbreaks in wild

populations when stocking or accidental populations when stocking or accidental introduction.introduction.

2 types; 2 types; epizooticsepizootics- large scale eruptive - large scale eruptive disease outbreaks, disease outbreaks, enzooticsenzootics- low-level - low-level chronic disease problems.chronic disease problems.

Exotic or transplanted organisms may transfer Exotic or transplanted organisms may transfer diseases against which native organisms have diseases against which native organisms have no defense.no defense.

Parasites in wild affect only few members in a Parasites in wild affect only few members in a population. population.

Diseases, Pathogens and Diseases, Pathogens and

Parasites- Parasites- ConcernConcern Artificially reared populations, Artificially reared populations,

crowded organisms are more crowded organisms are more susceptible to disease, outbreak will susceptible to disease, outbreak will affect large percentage of affect large percentage of population.population.

Avian Influenza- Bird FluAvian Influenza- Bird Flu Infection caused by viruses. Infection caused by viruses. Occurs naturally among wild birds, carried in Occurs naturally among wild birds, carried in

their intestines, usually does not affect them.their intestines, usually does not affect them. VeryVery contagiouscontagious among domesticated among domesticated

birds; chickens, ducks and turkey, become birds; chickens, ducks and turkey, become very ill and eminent death.very ill and eminent death.

Infected birds shed the virus in saliva, nasal Infected birds shed the virus in saliva, nasal secretions and feces.secretions and feces.

Susceptible birds infected by contact with Susceptible birds infected by contact with contaminated fluids, surfaces or materials.contaminated fluids, surfaces or materials.

Avian Flu VirusAvian Flu Virus

Avian Influenza- Bird FluAvian Influenza- Bird Flu 2 forms of bird flu affecting domestic poultry.2 forms of bird flu affecting domestic poultry. Low pathogenicLow pathogenic form may go undetected form may go undetected

and cause only mild conditions; ruffled and cause only mild conditions; ruffled feathers, mild respiratory effects and drop in feathers, mild respiratory effects and drop in egg production.egg production.

Highly pathogenicHighly pathogenic form spreads rapidly form spreads rapidly through flocks, affects multiple internal through flocks, affects multiple internal organs, massive hemorrhaging and has organs, massive hemorrhaging and has mortality rate of 90-100% within 48 hours.mortality rate of 90-100% within 48 hours.

Nicknamed the Nicknamed the Chicken EbolaChicken Ebola..

Avian Influenza- Avian Influenza- HistoryHistory Historically, wild bird flu virus infected Historically, wild bird flu virus infected

domestic poultry, which infected domestic poultry, which infected domesticated pig, mixed with pig flu virus.domesticated pig, mixed with pig flu virus.

Viruses exchanged genetic information, Viruses exchanged genetic information, formed new virus.formed new virus.

NewNew mutation mutation could infect humans easily could infect humans easily and spread from person to person.and spread from person to person.

19181918, Spanish flu began as normal flu, , Spanish flu began as normal flu, became deadly.became deadly.

Scientists believe this virus was mutated form Scientists believe this virus was mutated form of bird flu virus.of bird flu virus.

Avian Flu CycleAvian Flu Cycle

Avian Influenza- Avian Influenza- H5N1H5N1 Bird flu Bird flu H5N1H5N1, recent deadly virus , recent deadly virus

affecting domesticated poultry in Asia affecting domesticated poultry in Asia and eastern Europe.and eastern Europe.

First discovered in Hong Kong, First discovered in Hong Kong, 19971997, , infected 18 and killed 6 people in close infected 18 and killed 6 people in close contact with infected poultry.contact with infected poultry.

H5N1 survives in environment for long H5N1 survives in environment for long periods of time.periods of time.

Avian Influenza- Avian Influenza- H5N1H5N1 Wild birds migrate from Asia to Europe Wild birds migrate from Asia to Europe

with virus in their intestine.with virus in their intestine. Birds that recover from flu Birds that recover from flu shed virusshed virus

through secretions and excretions for through secretions and excretions for up to 10 days.up to 10 days.

Since then, millions of birds infected, Since then, millions of birds infected, then disposed of to prevent spread of then disposed of to prevent spread of disease.disease.

20052005, discovered in Turkey and , discovered in Turkey and Romania.Romania.

Avian Influenza- Avian Influenza- H5N1H5N1

Disposal of Infected Poultry

H5N1- H5N1- Worldwide AffectsWorldwide Affects 2005, 146 confirmed cases, 76 fatalities 2005, 146 confirmed cases, 76 fatalities

in 6 countries.in 6 countries. Slowed economic growthSlowed economic growth in Asian in Asian

poultry industry and tourism from poultry industry and tourism from pandemic.pandemic.

Predict next bird flu pandemic infects Predict next bird flu pandemic infects 20% of world’s population, mostly Third 20% of world’s population, mostly Third World countries.World countries.

Predicted food and energy shortage and Predicted food and energy shortage and import/export restrictions.import/export restrictions.

Current Bird EmbargosCurrent Bird Embargos EmbargoEmbargo- country’s government order - country’s government order

to ban trade of certain product with to ban trade of certain product with certain countries.certain countries.

USDA and CDC restrictions on poultry, USDA and CDC restrictions on poultry, commercial birds, pet birds and commercial birds, pet birds and unprocessed bird products, dead or unprocessed bird products, dead or alive, from Asia and eastern Europe.alive, from Asia and eastern Europe.

United States had low pathogenic United States had low pathogenic viruses in poultry, few years ago. Asia, viruses in poultry, few years ago. Asia, Mexico and European Union issued Mexico and European Union issued embargo against trade.embargo against trade.

ReferencesReferencesWillis, D.W., Scarlet, C.G. and Flake, L.D. Willis, D.W., Scarlet, C.G. and Flake, L.D.

Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries-An Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries-An Integrated Approach, 2Integrated Approach, 2ndnd Edition Edition, 2009, , 2009, W.H. Freeman and Comp., New York, W.H. Freeman and Comp., New York, NY, pp. 202-204.NY, pp. 202-204.

www.cdc.govwww.cdc.gov – –Key facts about Avian Key facts about Avian Influenza and AH5N1 VirusInfluenza and AH5N1 Virus

www.bird-flu-facts.orgwww.bird-flu-facts.org

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