Ongoing #transmission of #avian #influenza A #viruses in #HK despite very comprehensive #poultry #control #measures: a prospective seroepidemiology study (J Infect., abstract)

[Source: US National Library of Medicine, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]

J Infect. 2015 Nov 26. pii: S0163-4453(15)00365-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.10.013. [Epub ahead of print]

Ongoing transmission of avian influenza A viruses in Hong Kong despite very comprehensive poultry control measures: a prospective seroepidemiology study. [      ]

To KK¹, Hung IF², Lui YM³, Mok FK³, Chan AS³, Li PT³, Wong TL³, Ho DT³, Chan JF¹, Chan KH¹, Yuen KY⁴.

Author information: ¹State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. ²Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. ³Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. ⁴State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Electronic address: kyyuen@hku.hk.

 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Stringent measures have been implemented in Hong Kong to prevent human infections due to avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Here, we report the seroprevalence of AIVs among high risk population.

METHODS:

In this prospective study, blood samples were collected in October and November 2013 and in July 2014 from workers at live poultry market (LPM) and pig/cattle slaughterhouse (SH) in Hong Kong. Serum antibody titers against A(H5N1), A(H7N9) and A(H9N2) were determined.

RESULTS:

When an hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer of 40 was used as the cutoff, the A(H5N1) seropositive rate among LPM workers increased from 0% in 2013 to 37.8% in 2014 (P<0.001) and the A(H9N2) seropositive rate increased from 10% to 55.6% (P<0.001). There was no significant increase in A(H7N9) seropositive rate for LPM workers irrespective of cutoff titer. For SH workers, there was no significant increase in HI titer for any AIVs. Significantly more LPM workers had a ≥4-fold increase in A(H5N1) HI titer from 2013 to 2014 than SH workers (60% vs 8.3%, P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS:

There was a significant increase of serum A(H5N1) and A(H9N2) HI titers among Hong Kong LPM workers between 2013 and 2014, suggesting the occurrence of subclinical AIV infections in this population.

Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

KEYWORDS: H5N1; H7N9; H9N2; Hong Kong; avian influenza; epidemiology; seroprevalence

PMID: 26632329 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Keywords: Research; Abstracts; H7N9; H5N1; H9N2; Avian Influenza; Poultry; HK PRC SAR; Human; Seroprevalence.

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