Hunter-harvested waterfowl are sampled for avian influenza virus at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Credit: USFWS

Dr. Cindy Driscoll, Maryland Department of Natural Resources technician Kim Hoxter, and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge biologist Annie Larsen work together to collect avian influenza virus samples. Credit: USFWS

As a result of the continued spread of avian influenza in northern Asia, the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies have partnered in surveillance activities of wild birds. On the Delmarva Peninsula, an Eastern Shore partnership has been forged between the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC-USGS), Dr. Cindy Driscoll from Maryland DNR, Dr. Richard Slemmons from Ohio State University, and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Milton, Del., to field sample waterfowl for AIVs in Maryland and Delaware.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is cooperating and helping to enhance AIV surveillance of wild birds using local refuge habitats. This local monitoring will add to national and international disease surveillance database information.

The refuge is accomplishing this by collecting cloacal swab samples from harvested waterfowl. Hunter check points provide an excellent opportunity to collect additional samples to monitor for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and other AIV subtypes. Currently a National HPAI Surveillance Plan is being drafted for Homeland Security which relies heavily on the surveillance of live-captured birds’ strategy. The plan also identifies that hunter-killed HPAI surveillance serves to supplement live-captured bird data by increasing the number of targeted wild bird species, geographic locations, and time periods represented in surveillance efforts.

Refuge staff was trained on December 2 by Wildlife Veterinarian Cindy P. Driscoll, D.V.M. with MD-DNR on AI sampling protocols and bird handling techniques. Dr. Driscoll also supplied staff with all the required vials, culture media, etc., needed for sample collection from hunter-harvested waterfowl. Collected samples were then picked up by MD-DNR personnel and submitted for viral testing to Dr. Slemmons at Ohio State University.  About 150 samples were collected at Prime Hook NWR on December 2, 3, 12, 16, 19, and 21. Bird species sampled included American black-duck, mallard, wood duck, American green-winged teal, Northern shoveler, American wigeon, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, American coot, Northern pintail, Canada goose, and snow goose.