Epidemiology and molecular characterization of Influenza virus in migratory and resident birds in Brazil.

Author(s)

Miguel Augusto Golono

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2009-12-11

Examining board members

Edison Luiz Durigon; Severino Mendes de Azevedo Junior; Cláudia Filoni; Silvana Regina Favoretto Lazarini; Saulo Duarte Passos

• Advisor: Edison Luiz Durigon

Abstract

The avian influenza virus has caused epidemics and pandemics through the ages, the most devastating pandemic that we know, the Spanish flu in 1918, had its origin in the avian virus type A subtype H1N1. Since 2003 the avian virus subtype H5N1 has infected 442 people and led to death 262. Besides the health aspect of the avian influenza viruses cause major economic impact. Brazil as the largest exporter of chicken in the world has much to lose if bird flu reaches the country. Because wild birds are the natural reservoir of influenza A, is that it is necessary to implement the monitoring. Although programs exist for continuous monitoring of wild birds in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and others, little has been done in Brazil. Samples collected from 671 birds were tested by GeneScan techniques, real-time PCR and RT-PCR and nested-PCR Duplex. (AU)