The Elements

Vaccination & Diagnostics

This section contains materials relating to vaccination, diagnostics and laboratories, and research. The technical material available will be expanded in accordance with the needs of technical professionals utilising the toolkit. To suggest additional topics or submit items for the technical corner, please email: support@aitoolkit.org

This includes:

factors to consider in using vaccination as an aid for control and eradication
OIE Avian Influenza: Manual of Diagnostic tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals 2008
information on the development, production and use of vaccines
scientific, economic, regulatory and socio-ethical aspects of animal vaccine use
information on sample shipping
information relating to vaccination for avian influenza in Asia.

Case Studies
Documents

Case Studies

Avian Influenza Vaccination in Egypt

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10/02/2010 1:19:03 PM

The decision to use mass vaccination against HPAI in Egypt was taken as an emergency measure – however, three years on, the impact has been very limited. This study discusses the limitations of the current vaccination strategy in Egypt.
Avian influenza vaccination: the experience in China

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25/02/2010 12:55:47 PM

This study, prepared for the OIE Scientific and Technical Review series by H. Chen, examines China’s vaccination strategy to control avian influenza infection in poultry including development, implementation, challenges and efficacy.
Can Preening Contribute to Influenza A Virus Infection in Wild Waterbirds

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9/07/2010 1:45:35 PM

This work was supported by grants from the University of Bologna. The study examines whether preen oil gland secretions, by which all aquatic birds make their feathers waterproof, supports a natural mechanism that concentrates avian influenza viruses from water onto bird bodies, therefore posing a possible source of infection.
Evolutionary Repercussions of Avian Culling on Host Resistance and Influenza Virulence

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10/06/2010 12:52:19 PM

Mass culling of avian hosts has been the long-standing practice for influenza control within the avian reservoir. This study combines population genetics and epidemiological influenza dynamics in a mathematical model to explore the epidemiological and evolutionary repercussions of mass avian culling – concluding that mass culling achieves a short-term benefit at the expense of several long-term detriments.
Isolation and characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 from donkeys

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15/07/2010 12:29:37 PM

The highly pathogenic H5N1 is a major avian pathogen that crosses species barriers and seriously affects humans as well as some mammals. This study examines the prospect of H5N1 jumping from poultry to donkeys, and highlights the need for surveillance of H5N1 in animals in the vicinity of backyard poultry units. The study was originally published in the Journal of Biomedical Science.
Migration of Whooper Swans and Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Eastern Asia

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29/04/2010 3:29:26 PM

This study, co-funded by the Government of Sweden and the United States Geological Survey, examines the links between the movement of whooper swans, and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in Eastern Asia.
Retrospective space-time analysis of H5N1 Avian Influenza emergence in Thailand

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30/07/2010 11:11:32 AM

Using data from Thailand, this study employs a spatial approach to describe all highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus epizootics from 2004 to 2008 to characterize the pattern of emergence. This article was initially published in the International Journal of Health Geographics.
Spatiotemporal Structure of Molecular Evolution of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses in Vietnam

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8/04/2010 12:19:23 PM

This study, funded by the United States National Science foundation, combines spatial statistical methods with genetic analytic techniques and explicitly used geographic space to explore genetic evolution of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses at the sub-national scale in Vietnam. The results demonstrate that genetic evolution of H5N1 viruses in Vietnamese domestic poultry is highly correlated with the location and spread of those viruses in geographic space.
Susceptibility of North American Ducks and Gulls to H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses

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25/03/2010 3:10:08 PM

This study assesses the clinical response, and extent and duration of viral shedding, in five species of North American ducks and laughing gulls after intranasal challenge with two Asian H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
Vaccination of poultry in Vietnam against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza

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26/11/2009 1:54:19 PM

In 2005, with the number of human cases of influenza A increasing, Vietnam faced a public health crisis. Their subsequent experiences provide valuable information to other countries considering vaccination of poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza caused by viruses of the H5N1 subtype. This paper written by Dr Les Sims and Dr Do Huu Dung, explores a range of issues relating to vaccination, including some of the lessons that have been learned so far in Vietnam.

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Documents

1918 Influenza: the Mother of All Pandemics

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15/05/2009 11:52:46 AM

This article from the online serial Emerging Infectious Diseases analyses events and causes of the 1918 pandemic and implications for future pandemic planning and research. Of particular interest to those seeking a historical perspective for pandemic research and planning.
Antigenic and genetic characteristics of influenza A(H5N1) and influenza A(H9N2) viruses and canditate vaccine viruses developed for potential use in human vaccines

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25/03/2010 3:20:02 PM

Since their re-emergence in 2003, influenza A (H5N1 & H9N2)) viruses have been endemic in some countries and continue to cause outbreaks in poultry and sporadic human infections. This summary provides an update on the characterisation of these viruses isolated from birds and humans, and the current status of the development of candidate vaccine viruses.
Australian Biosecurity CRC: A procedure for rapid H5N1 diagnosis using reverse transcription (RRT)-PCR

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18/02/2009 2:10:03 PM

This report by the CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory describes two real-time PCR tests for the detection of influenza type A and subtype H5. The report of the evaluation of the performance of the tests is complementary to this report.
Australian Biosecurity CRC: Implementation and validation of avian influenza virus TaqMan assays on various platforms

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18/02/2009 2:34:40 PM

This document is complementary to the document on realtime RT-PCR diagnostic tests for rapid and sensitive detection of AI H5N. It provides an evaluation of the performance of the tests on the various instrument platforms used in different laboratories.
ECDC Interim Risk Assessment: Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic

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27/07/2009 8:16:23 AM

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has released an interim risk assessment (14 pp., dated 20 July 2009) of the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic. Includes a summary of disease characteristics, epidemiology and areas of uncertainty, as well as an executive summary.
Establishment of International Organization for Standardization accredited mobile diagnostic laboratory to enhance public health response against avian influenza

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20/07/2009 10:35:06 AM

This 2009 paper reports on the success of an innovative rapid-response mobile laboratory service developed in Thailand and designed to reduce the time required for laboratory diagnosis of human influenza A viruses. The paper discusses the potential of the technology for use in pandemic response plans.
FAO Guidelines for HPAI Surveillance and Diagnostic Networks in Asia

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17/10/2008 9:04:24 AM

A guide to the principles and minimum requirements for surveillance and diagnosis of H5N1 HPAI, for application by countries and regional networks.
FAO Recommendations on the Prevention, Control and Eradication of HPAI in Asia

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17/10/2008 9:24:35 AM

A 2004 FAO Position Paper presenting the main scientific and technical issues and recommendations on prevention, control and eradication of HPAI. It acknowledges that as the disease epidemiology evolves and scientific knowledge and management tools become more comprehensive, management approaches may need to be modified.
FAO Technical guide No.3 - Animal Production and Health

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17/10/2008 8:58:07 AM

Preparing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - An FAO manual to assist national animal health authorities and other stakeholders to prepare for HPAI, detect the disease and respond quickly. It contains chapters on diagnosis, risk of introduction and spread, preparing for an outbreak, and prevention and biosecurity.
FAO Technical guides No.4 - Animal Production and Health

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15/10/2008 2:54:36 PM

Wild bird highly pathogenic avian influenza surveillance: Sample collection from healthy, sick and dead birds. Includes chapters on clinical signs of disease, live bird handling, necropsy protocol and sample collection, sample handling and transport, carcass disposal and disinfections and personal safety recommendations.

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