Bitrus Inuwa

Qualitative assessment of the clinico-pathological features of highly pathogenic avian influenza h5n1 outbreaks in commercial poultry and peri-domestic birds in northern nigeria

  • Authors Details :  
  • Negedu Onogu Ameji,  
  • Oludotun Olubusola Oladele,  
  • Adanu Williams Adanu,  
  • Alexander Ray Jambalang,  
  • Bitrus Inuwa,  
  • Ayuba Musa Haruna,  
  • Clement Adebajo Meseko

Journal title : Journal of Biosciences and Medicines

Publisher : Scientific Research Publishing, Inc.

Online ISSN : 2327-509X

Page Number : 273-288

Journal volume : 10

Journal issue : 09

206 Views Original Article

The control of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Nigeria from inception is predicated on effective biosecurity by stamping out policy but outbreaks of the disease continued to re-occur with altered clinico-pathologic manifestations. This study undertook the qualitative assessment of the clinico- pathological features of HPAI H5N1 during the 2021/2022 outbreaks in commercial poultry and peri-domestic birds in northern Nigeria. A total of 22 commercial poultry farms with 53,932 laying chickens and 3 households with 120 backyard broiler chickens, 18 indigenous chickens, 10 peafowls and 9 geese were investigated for HPAI. The clinico-pathologic manifestations observed in commercial poultry were subtle compared to previous presentations of the disease except in the peafowls, geese, broilers and indigenous chickens. The interspecies mortality rates significantly varied from 1.6% to 19.6% for laying chickens and 33.3% to 100% for broilers, indigenous chickens, geese and peafowls. Based on the history of sudden and high mortality, clinical signs and post mortem lesions observed, three diseases; HPAI, very virulent Newcastle disease and fowl cholera were drawn out as differential diagnoses. However, a tentative diagnosis of HPAI was made and samples were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria for confirmatory diagnosis. Results of the laboratory tests conducted on the samples using one step flu A screening and duplex real time RT-PCR and virus isolation in embryonated chicken eggs confirmed HPAI H5N1 in twenty-five farms. It is concluded that the continuous though, irregular outbreaks of HPAI and emerging clinico-pathologic manifestations are pointers to failure of control and that the disease may become endemic. It is recommended that government should review its policy on the control of HPAI to include the adoption of zoned vaccination with close monitoring.

Article DOI & Crossmark Data

DOI : https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2022.109019

Article Subject Details


Article Keywords Details



Article File

Full Text PDF


Article References




More Article by Bitrus Inuwa

Occurrence of haemoparasites in cattle slaughtered at jalingo abattoir, north-eastern nigeria

Livestock plays a significant role in the economy of a nation but its productivity can be hampered by numerous haemoparasites thereby leading to economic losses to the livestock in...

Detection of antibodies to h5 and h9 subtypes of influenza viruses in wild birds in zaria, nigeria

Avian influenza has impacted negatively on poultry production in nigeria. the aim of this study was to determine the status of avian influenza virus (aiv) antibodies in wild birds ...

Attitude towards wearing face mask increases vulnerability of men over women and the risk of covid-19 pandemic spread in jos-south metropolis, plateau state, nigeria

Background covid-19 pandemic has hit many countries and put the majority of the public health system to test globally. mandatory use of face mask was among policies set by the gove...

Live bird markets in nigeria: a potential reservoir for h9n2 avian influenza viruses

Since 2006, multiple outbreaks of avian influenza (ai) have been reported in nigeria involving different subtypes. surveillance and molecular epidemiology have revealed the vital r...