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The objective of this cooperative research project is to study the biological characteristics of low pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) isolates by experimental infection of common domestic avian species (chickens, turkeys, and ducks). This information will be compared to the sequence of the virus to try and understand how the genotype affects the phenotype. Additional studies to evaluate potential routes of transmission of avian influenza virus on the farm will be performed. This information will be used to improve current stochastic models of avian influenza spread on farms.
APPROACH: Pathogenicity and transmissibility studies planned following a standard protocol will be conducted to evaluate the biological characteristics of low pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) virus isolates in different domestic birds. Experiments will be conducted at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC) at the University of Georgia with LPAI viruses selected from the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) repository. The transmission studies will include field work on farms to evaluate contact and spread of virus on and between farms. A combination of surveys and investigator studies of people and equipment movement on farms will be conducted.