Inuwa, B. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Infectious Bronchitis: Molecular Detection and Characterization in Live Bird Markets in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the avian coronavirus, is a highly contagious coronavirus of birds. It mostly affects the respiratory, urinary and reproductive tract, leading to considerable economic losses to the poultry industry as a result of drop in egg production, undesirable egg quality and poor weight gain. Thus, this study aimed to detect and characterize the virus in live bird markets (LBMs) in Plateau State, Nigeria. One hundred pooled of cloacal and tracheal swab samples each were collected from two LBMs in Jos. Viral RNA was extracted and screened for IBV using real-time RT-PCR. Subsequently, hyper-variable region of the spike (S1) gene of positive samples were amplified and sequenced. IBV nucleic acid was detected in 42% (42/100) of the pooled samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the resulting sequences of S1 gene showed that IBV detected in this study were diversified into two distinct genotypes: GI-14, and GI-23. These genotypes were closely related to a Poland strain with over 95% nucleotide identity, forming a common cluster within the GI-23 group. One isolate showed a notable relationship with a previously reported Nigerian isolate, sharing 85% nucleotide identity, and formed a common cluster within the GI-14 group. Overall, this study established the widespread of IBV and therefore recommends continuous surveillance to identify the current circulating strain for possible local vaccine development for effective control measures to mitigate the spread of the virus in the study area and the country at large.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Exotic and Zoological Birds Resident and Imported into Nigeria harbour Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus: Threat to Poultry Production, Food security and Public Health.

Influenza is a major infectious disease challenge affecting animal and human health globally, and wild birds are historically the primary reservoirs of all the known Influenza A virus subtypes. Here, we detected the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in exotic and aquatic birds in three different locations in Nigeria. On the 8th of February 2021, exotic birds: Yellow Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus), Sultan chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), Lakenvelder chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), and Common pheasant (Phasianus calchicus), imported from Libya and transported across the Niger Republic border to Nigeria, were presented to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for screening. Also, a family in Lagos State bought some exotic aquatic birds from a live bird market in Sokoto State, Nigeria, where sudden death was recorded with the birds showing few clinical signs. Similarly, the sudden death of some aquatic birds was reported in Mandela Parks and Gardens in Asaba, Delta State, few weeks after some captured wild birds were introduced to the Park and Gardens. Oropharyngeal, cloacal, and tissue samples were all collected from the reported cases. Total viral nucleic acid was extracted and screened for Influenza A viruses using real-time RT-PCR. The HPAI viruses H5N1 and H5N8 were detected in the imported aquatic (geese and ducks) and exotic (yellow golden pheasant) birds. The samples tested negative for low-pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H9N2) as well as other avian viruses, viz., Avian avulavirus-1 (Newcastle disease Virus) and infectious bronchitis virus. This highlights the role of these resident and imported exotic birds in the local transmission and spread of the HPAI virus to domestic poultry. The findings call for proper biosecurity and quarantine measures for exotic and wild birds to reduce the potential risk to animal and public health in Nigeria.

microbiology↗