Project Number: 6612-32000-041-00
Project Type: Other

Start Date: Jul 29, 2002
End Date: Jul 28, 2007

Objective:
Objective 1: Develop real-time RT-PCR (RTT-PCR) tests for rapid and early diagnosis of avian influenza (AI) and Newcastle disease (ND) in poultry. Such tests will allow early detection of these exotic poultry diseases, and support critical surveillance efforts and any potential eradication needs. Simultaneously, RRT-PCR tests will be developed to other respiratory diseases including avian pneumovirus, infectious bronchitis, laryngotracheitis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum which must be differentiated from AI and ND. Objective 2: Validate the RRT-PCR tests in laboratory experiments. Objective 3: Validate the RRT-PCR tests in field investigations. Objective 4: Efforts will be enhanced for surveillance of AI and ND in poultry and wild birds in US and surrounding countries. Molecular epidemiologic data will be generated for outbreak investigations to determine the source of the viruses and for development of strategies to reduce risks of introduction into the U.S.

Approach:
Objective 1: Primer probe sets will be developed to detect a broad spectrum of avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses. Additional probe sets will be developed to differentiate AI hemagglutinin subtypes and ND pathotypes. Probes will be developed to detect and differentiate AI and ND viruses from other respiratory diseases. Objectives 2 and 3: The RRT-PCR tests will be validated for sensitivity and specificity against the pathogens in laboratory experiments with chickens and turkeys and field investigation studies with poultry in the US and cooperating countries. Objective 4: Surveillance of wild birds and poultry will yield new AI and ND strains. Sequencing of the viruses will yield data for development of an epidemiologic map that can be used in outbreak investigation. Research will be in cooperation with university partners through Specific Cooperative Agreements. Funding of $2.8 million provided through Department of Defense Homeland Security Funds to Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory.