Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS)

Wildlife Conservation Society
www.wcs.com

WCS Global Health Program

The first stage of analysis of samples collected during the WCS avian influenza surveys in 2008 have now been completed. In total 1,377 birds were sampled by WCS field teams between May and September 2008, and exported to internationally recognized laboratories in October. Initial screening by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) at the University of California in Davis has tested samples for the presence of genetic segments to indicate presence of avian influenza virus (all subtypes) and also the H5 subtype in particular. In total samples from 132 birds were found to contain avian influenza virus, a finding consistent with surveys in previous years and no indication to suggest presence of highly pathogenic subtypes.

An update of results has been relayed to partners at the State Central Veterinary Laboratory and the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. Frozen duplicate samples from each of these positive birds will now be submitted for viral culture at the University of Hong Kong where attempts will be made to grow virus for further sub-typing and genetic sequencing. Results from the viral isolation and further work will be relayed to government partners and USAID as they are received and all viral sequences will be reported through the National Institutes of Health CEIRS initiative, which is providing support for this work.