How to translate text using browser tools
16 April 2021 The Risk of Highly Pathogenic Influenza A Virus Transmission to Turkey Hen Flocks Through Artificial Insemination
Carol Cardona, Ben Wileman, Sasidhar Malladi, Rachael Ceballos, Marie Culhane, Jeannette Munoz-Aguayo, Cristian Flores-Figueroa, David Halvorson, Emily Walz, Kaitlyn St. Charles, Peter Bonney, Amos Ssematimba, Timothy Goldsmith
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Artificial insemination is a routine practice for turkeys that can introduce pathogens into breeder flocks in a variety of ways. In this manuscript, a risk analysis on the potential transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to naïve hens through artificial insemination is presented. A case of HPAI on a stud farm where the potential transmission of the virus to susceptible hens in the 2015 H5N2 HPAI outbreak in Minnesota is described along with documentation of known and potential transmission pathways from the case. The pathways by which artificial insemination might result in the spread of HPAI to susceptible hens were determined by considering which could result in the 1) entry of HPAI virus onto a premises through semen movement; and 2) exposure of susceptible hens to HPAI as a result of this movement. In the reported case, HPAI virus was detected in semen from infected toms, however, transmission of HPAI to naïve hens through semen is unclear since the in utero infectious dose is not known. This means that the early detection of infection might limit but not eliminate the risk of hen exposure. Because of the numerous potential pathways of spread and the close contact with the birds, it is highly likely that if semen from an HPAI-infected tom flock is used, there will be spread of the virus to naïve hens through insemination. If insemination occurs with semen from stud farms in an HPAI control area, receiving hen farms should have restricted movements to prevent outbreak spread in the event that they become infected.

Carol Cardona, Ben Wileman, Sasidhar Malladi, Rachael Ceballos, Marie Culhane, Jeannette Munoz-Aguayo, Cristian Flores-Figueroa, David Halvorson, Emily Walz, Kaitlyn St. Charles, Peter Bonney, Amos Ssematimba, and Timothy Goldsmith "The Risk of Highly Pathogenic Influenza A Virus Transmission to Turkey Hen Flocks Through Artificial Insemination," Avian Diseases 65(2), 303-309, (16 April 2021). https://doi.org/10.1637/aviandiseases-D-20-00132
Received: 6 December 2020; Accepted: 16 April 2021; Published: 16 April 2021
KEYWORDS
Artificial insemination
breeders
highly pathogenic avian influenza
risk assessment
semen
transmission pathways
turkeys
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top