Influenza aviaria

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The Italian experience in the control of Avian
Influenza applying emergency and prophylactic
vaccination
Luca Busani Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale
delle Venezie
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The AI challenge in Italy

• High density of susceptible species (turkeys)
  in a limited area (Densely Populated Poultry
  Area-DPPA)
• Wetlands and resting sites for migratory
  waterfowl in close proximity of this DPPA
• Several introductions of LPAI viruses from wild
  birds resulting in some cases in major epidemics

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ITALY - VENETO AND LOMBARDY Distribution of
poultry holdings
Mallard population in Italy 110,000 birds/year
_at_ 3.300 poultry holdings _at_ 95 million bird places
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Italy AI outbreaks from 1997 to 2005

• 1997-1998 HPAI H5N2 8 outbreaks, backyard
  flocks, prompt eradication
• 2000 LPAI-HPAI H7N1, total costs 500 million
• 2000-2001 LPAI H7N1 78 outbreaks
• 2002-2003 LPAI H7N3 388 outbreaks
• 2004 LPAI H7N3 28 outbreaks (September-November)
• 2005 LPAI H5N2 15 outbreaks (April-May)

Total direct costs 170 million euros
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LPAI prevention control strategies

• Increase of farms bio-security level
• Prompt detection of any AI virus introduction in
• Poultry
• Wild birds
• Vaccination (H5H7 virus subtypes)
• Reduction of farm density, mainly turkey farms
  (long term strategy)

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More than 1000 farms More than 31 million birds
Veneto
Lombardia
VACCINATION AREA
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Vaccination data management system
Reports to decision makers
Laboratory data
Poultry populations data
Central data collection and analysis
Monitoring activity
Poultry vaccination data
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Numbers of vaccination in Italy (2000-2006)
2000- 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Capons 41,000 301,000 268,000 192,000 211,000
Guinea Fowls - - 84,000 75,000 41,000
Cockerels - 1,061,000 1,261,000 - -
Laying hens 6,534,000 26,830,000 13,263,000 7,577,000 5,459,000
Turkeys 16,303,000 47,242,000 36,171,000 28,318,000 10,908,000
Total (doses) 23 million 75 million 51 million 36 million 17 million
Cost () 4 million 13 million 9 million 6 million 3 million
Vaccination-related costs 35 million payed by
the farmers
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Weekly incidence rate of LPAI H7N3 outbreaks
From 31/12/02 vaccination of turkeys (H7N1)
R03.0 IC (2.3- 3.9)
R00.6 IC (0.5-0.7)
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LPAI epidemics and vaccination in Italy

• emergency vaccination
• preventative vaccination
• c,d) poor adherence to the vaccination protocol
• c) 17 flocks vaccinated only once or twice,
  instead of three times as scheduled
• d) all flocks vaccinated only once

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Conclusions I

• Emergency and prophylactic AI vaccination can
  reduce financial losses due to AI epidemics
• In order to maintain trade, vaccination must be
  coupled with monitoring and aimed at eradication
• Wild birds and backyard flocks must be included
  in the monitoring programs
• The problems related to AI vaccines and
  vaccination must be considered when intervention
  is planned

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Conclusion II

• Control of AI in DPPAs requires a coordinated
  territorial strategy including surveillance,
  early detection and prompt intervention and
  vaccination should be part of it
• This strategy must be adapted to the field
  conditions
• It requires dedicated resources
• The sustainability in the long period is the
  major drawback

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Grazie per lattenzione
Luca Busani Istituto Zooprofilattico delle
Venezie CREVcrev.lbusani_at_izsvenezie.itStefano
Marangon Istituto Zooprofilattico delle
Veneziesmarangon_at_izsvenezie.it