Study of the transmission of avian influenza virus

Principal Investigator

Jiewen Guan, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Year the work was done

2010-2013

Overall objective

  • To determine the extent to which airborne transmission can contribute to the spread of avian influenza virus.

Outcomes

  • Dr. Guan and her team were able to establish the relationship between exposure level and uptake of aerosolized AIV (H9N2).
  • The researchers determined that a very mall amount of infectious virus can be transmitted to chickens from the air, and that the virus can be transmitted from chicken to chicken through indirect contact.

Application

  • This research is part of an overall program to better understand the biology of avian influenza with the long-term goal of developing rational control strategies in domestic poultry.
  • Dr. Guan’s results have significant implications to the risks associated with air-borne transmission of AIV.

This research applies to

Breeders, Broilers, Layers, Turkeys

This research was supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Poultry Research Council and Canadian Food Inspection Agency.