Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a contagious viral disease. Currently, there is no treatment, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza lead to mass depopulations of poultry flocks, disrupting the poultry industry and economy.
Although avian influenza viruses usually do not infect humans, they have caused illness and even death in rare cases. Avian influenza viruses spread from bird to bird (and to other animal species) through direct contact with infected birds and their saliva, mucus, feathers and feces and via contaminated surfaces and materials.
With funding support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, scientists at Land-grant Universities are working together to develop and share the information, tools and strategies needed to prevent, detect and manage avian influenza.
Supported by NIFA’s Hatch Multistate Research Fund, these projects are addressing avian influenza in a variety of ways. Part of that work is focused on understanding the genetic bases of immunity and resistance to avian influenza, which lays the foundation for breeding disease-resistant poultry and developing better vaccines. Other projects are focused on detection tools, poultry facility designs, and production practices that protect poultry health and welfare.
This work enhances poultry health, welfare and productivity, which are key to poultry industry sustainability as well as food security and safety.
Multistate Projects Offer Unique Benefits
No single state or institution possesses all the resources needed to address a widespread, complex issue like infectious disease management. Hatch Multistate projects bring together multidisciplinary scientists from Land-grant Universities in multiple states to tackle complex regional issues in agriculture. These projects provide capacity funding and a forum for sharing expertise, ideas, facilities, equipment, materials and other resources.
With participants in different states, institutions and disciplines, the projects are able to disseminate findings quickly and widely. In particular, Land-grant Universities operate a widespread network of Extension educators and communicators, and they have strong relationships with government agencies and industry groups.
Project Highlights
- To enable poultry genetics research, project members developed chicken lines with defined genetic characteristics.
- Researchers used advanced technologies (like CRISPR/Cas9) and developed new data, tools and methods that have facilitated breakthroughs in poultry genetics, including the identification of genes and signaling pathways associated with resistance to avian influenza and molecular markers of infectivity, pathogenicity and transmissibility.
- Studies showed how avian influenza spreads from wild birds to poultry flocks. They highlighted mallard ducks as potential reservoirs that amplify and disseminate the virus and underscored the role contaminated water sources play in spreading avian influenza.
- Researchers assessed the persistence of avian influenza viruses in poultry footbaths, manure and litter and examined the effects of litter amendments and composting temperatures.
- Scientists evaluated the efficacy of available vaccines and continue to develop new vaccines and regimens to provide better protection against a broader range of avian influenza variants. New knowledge about antiviral and immune responses induced by vaccination will also help design future vaccines for avian influenza.
- In collaboration with industry, government agencies and diagnostic laboratories, researchers and Extension specialists provide surveillance for avian influenza in commercial and backyard poultry flocks, live bird markets and auctions, and wild aquatic birds.
- Scientists developed new tools and methods that have streamlined detection and typing of viral pathogens.
- Researchers designed automated systems that allow producers to record and assess the health and welfare of their poultry flocks in real-time. These systems could help detect avian influenza outbreaks more quickly.
- New ventilation and lighting systems can help protect poultry health and welfare, which can in turn help poultry avoid or resist viral infections.
- To manage the spread of avian influenza, researchers are examining possible methods for quickly and humanely depopulating large numbers of infected poultry and limiting risk of transmission from poultry to humans.
- Researchers are documenting the equipment, personnel and costs associated with disposal methods for large numbers of poultry carcasses so that the poultry industry is better prepared for future outbreaks of avian influenza that require depopulation.
- Researchers and Extension specialists created websites to share strategies for preventing and managing avian influenza.
- Researchers and Extension specialists designed and conduct biosecurity compliance audits to prevent outbreaks of avian influenza. They also developed and perform risk-based planning to improve outbreak response.
Read more about these research efforts.
Participating Universities and Partners
Auburn University; California State University, Fresno; City of Hope Beckman Research Institute; Cornell University; Iowa State University; Michigan State University; North Carolina State University; Ohio State University; Penn State University; Purdue University; Royal Veterinary College; Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS/Georgia; Texas AgriLife Research; USDA-ARS-Avian Disease & Oncology Laboratory, USDA-ARS/Missouri; University of Arizona; University of Arkansas; University of California Statewide Administration; University of California, Davis; University of Connecticut; University of Delaware; University of Georgia; University of Illinois; University of Maryland; University of Minnesota; University of Nebraska; University of Tennessee; University of Wisconsin; Virginia Tech; West Virginia University; and Western University of Health Sciences.