Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024
Background and Aim: Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious zoonotic disease affecting birds and, occasionally, humans. Ecuador confirmed its first case of AI in late 2022, resulting in significant avian mortality and economic losses. In response, the Ecuadorian government implemented a mandator...
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Veterinary World
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Veterinary World |
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| Online Access: | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/August-2025/12.pdf |
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| author | Byron Puga-Torres Hugo Navarrete David de la Torre |
| author_facet | Byron Puga-Torres Hugo Navarrete David de la Torre |
| author_sort | Byron Puga-Torres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aim: Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious zoonotic disease affecting birds and, occasionally, humans. Ecuador confirmed its first case of AI in late 2022, resulting in significant avian mortality and economic losses. In response, the Ecuadorian government implemented a mandatory control program emphasizing pre-vaccination diagnostics using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study aimed to confirm the absence of AI virus type A in poultry across six major provinces of Ecuador following the 2022 outbreak, as part of the national eradication and vaccination campaign.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective molecular surveillance study was conducted from April 2023 to June 2024. A total of 343 pooled tracheal swab samples were collected from poultry farms in six provinces (Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Pastaza, Pichincha, and Tungurahua), covering over 1 million birds. The samples were analyzed using real-time RT-qPCR, targeting the M gene, and subtype-specific genes (H5, H7, and H7N9).
Results: All 343 pooled samples (100%) tested negative for AI virus type A, suggesting an absence of active viral circulation during the study period. The implementation of pre-vaccination testing and biosecurity protocols contributed to this outcome.
Conclusion: The study confirms that AI virus type A was not circulating in Ecuadorian poultry during the surveillance period. These findings underscore the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among government, industry, and laboratories. Ongoing molecular surveillance remains essential for early detection and prevention of future outbreaks, reinforcing Ecuador’s commitment to One Health principles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4b1e3674bfc4f85a86806e13c5ecc69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0972-8988 2231-0916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Veterinary World |
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| series | Veterinary World |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4b1e3674bfc4f85a86806e13c5ecc692025-08-20T04:01:00ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162025-08-011882272228610.14202/vetworld.2025.2272-2286Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024Byron Puga-Torres0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4444-0054Hugo Navarrete1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5262-9754David de la Torre2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8306-9200Departamento de Biología Molecular, Laboratorio de Biología y Genética Molecular (LABIGEN), Quito, Ecuador.Centro de Estudios Aplicados en Química (CESAQ), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.Institutional Review Boards, Institute for Research in Biological Sciences, Quito, Ecuador.Background and Aim: Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious zoonotic disease affecting birds and, occasionally, humans. Ecuador confirmed its first case of AI in late 2022, resulting in significant avian mortality and economic losses. In response, the Ecuadorian government implemented a mandatory control program emphasizing pre-vaccination diagnostics using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This study aimed to confirm the absence of AI virus type A in poultry across six major provinces of Ecuador following the 2022 outbreak, as part of the national eradication and vaccination campaign. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective molecular surveillance study was conducted from April 2023 to June 2024. A total of 343 pooled tracheal swab samples were collected from poultry farms in six provinces (Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Pastaza, Pichincha, and Tungurahua), covering over 1 million birds. The samples were analyzed using real-time RT-qPCR, targeting the M gene, and subtype-specific genes (H5, H7, and H7N9). Results: All 343 pooled samples (100%) tested negative for AI virus type A, suggesting an absence of active viral circulation during the study period. The implementation of pre-vaccination testing and biosecurity protocols contributed to this outcome. Conclusion: The study confirms that AI virus type A was not circulating in Ecuadorian poultry during the surveillance period. These findings underscore the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among government, industry, and laboratories. Ongoing molecular surveillance remains essential for early detection and prevention of future outbreaks, reinforcing Ecuador’s commitment to One Health principles.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/August-2025/12.pdfavian influenzaecuadorh5n1highly pathogenic avian influenzaone healthpoultryreverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reactionsurveillance |
| spellingShingle | Byron Puga-Torres Hugo Navarrete David de la Torre Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 Veterinary World avian influenza ecuador h5n1 highly pathogenic avian influenza one health poultry reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction surveillance |
| title | Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 |
| title_full | Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 |
| title_fullStr | Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 |
| title_short | Molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type A in Ecuadorian poultry: A retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from April 2023 to June 2024 |
| title_sort | molecular surveillance confirms absence of avian influenza virus type a in ecuadorian poultry a retrospective reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction study from april 2023 to june 2024 |
| topic | avian influenza ecuador h5n1 highly pathogenic avian influenza one health poultry reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction surveillance |
| url | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/August-2025/12.pdf |
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