Summary
This cross-sectional survey of live bird retail stalls in Lahore District, Pakistan (December 2009–February 2010) identified three independent risk factors for H9 avian influenza infection in chickens: sourcing birds from mixed sources (OR 2.28), keeping birds outside cages (OR 3.10), and keeping non-broiler breeds (OR 6.27). The findings suggest that source segregation, cage confinement, and breed standardisation could reduce H9 infection risk in retail settings, with implications for disease control strategies in informal poultry marketing systems.
Regional applicability
Whilst the findings are specific to Pakistan's live bird market system, which differs substantially from UK retail structures, the biological mechanisms underlying transmission risk (mixing of sources, housing density, breed diversity) may inform biosecurity assessments in any poultry trading or live-sale context. UK applicability is limited by differences in market regulation, poultry sourcing infrastructure, and existing disease control frameworks.
Key measures
Prevalence of matrix (M) gene and H9, H5, H7 subtypes by qRT-PCR; prevalence odds ratios (OR) for risk factors including bird sourcing practices, housing conditions, and breed type
Outcomes reported
The study identified prevalence of avian influenza type A and H9 subtype infection in live bird retail stalls, and determined associated risk factors through survey-weighted logistic regression analysis.
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