Short report
Avian influenza virus risk assessment in falconry
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* Corresponding author: Andrea Kohls kohls.andrea@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
1 Free University of Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Poultry Diseases, Koenigsweg 63, 14163 Berlin, Germany
2 Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
3 Robert Koch Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany
4 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Marienkrankenhaus Soest, Widumgasse 5, 59494 Soest, Germany
5 Justus Liebig University, Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Frankfurter Straße 91-93, 35392 Giessen, Germany
Virology Journal 2011, 8:187 doi:10.1186/1743-422X-8-187
Published: 23 April 2011Abstract
Background
There is a continuing threat of human infections with avian influenza viruses (AIV). In this regard falconers might be a potential risk group because they have close contact to their hunting birds (raptors such as falcons and hawks) as well as their avian prey such as gulls and ducks. Both (hunting birds and prey birds) seem to be highly susceptible to some AIV strains, especially H5N1. We therefore conducted a field study to investigate AIV infections in falconers, their falconry birds as well as prey birds.
Findings
During 2 hunting seasons (2006/2007 and 2007/2008) falconers took tracheal and cloacal swabs from 1080 prey birds that were captured by their falconry birds (n = 54) in Germany. AIV-RNA of subtypes H6, H9, or H13 was detected in swabs of 4.1% of gulls (n = 74) and 3.8% of ducks (n = 53) using RT-PCR. The remaining 953 sampled prey birds and all falconry birds were negative. Blood samples of the falconry birds tested negative for AIV specific antibodies. Serum samples from all 43 falconers reacted positive in influenza A virus-specific ELISA, but remained negative using microneutralisation test against subtypes H5 and H7 and haemagglutination inhibition test against subtypes H6, H9 and H13.
Conclusion
Although we were able to detect AIV-RNA in samples from prey birds, the corresponding falconry birds and falconers did not become infected. Currently falconers do not seem to carry a high risk for getting infected with AIV through handling their falconry birds and their prey.