Objective
To analyze the external environmental contamination of avian influenza virus in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, so as to better assess its potential threat to public health and take corresponding preventive measures.
Methods
From 2020 to 2023, the random sampling method was used to collect the external environment samples of farmer markets and poultry wholesale markets in Zhuhai City. The samples were tested using fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR for nucleic acid detection of avian influenza A virus and detection of H5, H7 and H9 sub-types.
Results
A total of 2730 external environmental samples were collected, and 635 samples were positive for avian influenza A virus nucleic acid, with the positive rate of 23.26%. The detection rate of avian influenza A virus was relatively high from November to May of the following year. The detection rate was 17.22% for H9 sub-type, which was highest, 1.28% for H5 sub-type was, and 0.95% for H7 sub-type (χ2=159.397, P<0.001). The positive detection rate for the samples from residential farmer markets was 24.91%, higher than that from live poultry wholesale markets ( χ2=24.237, P<0.001). The positive detection rate for the surface samples from the scale plate was 32.89%, higher than that for other types of samples ( χ2=73.972, P<0.001).
Conclusions
Avian influenza virus contamination is found in external environmental samples in Zhuhai, and the risk of avian influenza virus infection is high in residential farmer markets. The disinfection of the external environment should be strengthened.