Objective: To analyze the avian influenza virus (AIV) contamination in poultry-related environments in Shaanxi Province and provide a reference for strengthening regional avian influenza prevention and control.

Methods: Environmental sites related to poultry (live poultry markets in urban and rural areas, large-scale farms, areas with concentrated free-range households, and poultry slaughtering and processing plants) in 10 cities and counties of Shaanxi Province from 2020 to 2024 were selected as monitoring points. Environmental samples such as poultry feces, cage surface swabs, poultry drinking water, and swabs from poultry meat boards used for slaughtering or display were collected monthly. AIV subtypes were detected using real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. Descriptive analysis was conducted according to monitoring time, region, site, and sample type. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 software.

Results: The AIV positive rate in poultry-related environments in Shaanxi Province from 2020 to 2024 was 3.54% (466/13,152). Positive detections occurred every year, showing two peak periods, with the positive peaks differing slightly among years. The regional distribution was mainly concentrated in the Loess Plateau area of northern Shaanxi (8.10%, 221/2,728) and the Qinba Mountains area of southern Shaanxi (3.34%, 121/3,622). Monitoring sites with higher AIV positive rates were primarily urban and rural live poultry markets (7.50%, 219/2,920) and poultry slaughtering and processing plants (7.19%, 32/445). Sample types with higher AIV positive rates were swabs from poultry meat boards used for slaughtering or display (10.95%, 81/740) and wastewater from poultry cleaning (7.39%, 37/501), with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). The pathogen spectrum of AIV positive samples was dominated by the H9N2 subtype (81.76%, 381/466), detected every year.

Conclusion: From 2020 to 2024, H9N2 subtype AIV contamination persisted in poultry-related environments in Shaanxi Province, with a wide distribution. Urban and rural live poultry markets and poultry slaughtering and processing plants in the Loess Plateau area of northern Shaanxi and the Qinba Mountains area of southern Shaanxi are key targets for prevention and control. In prevention and control work, continuous monitoring of AIV contamination in poultry-related environments should be maintained, and effective interventions should be taken in high-risk regions and sites to reduce the risk of avian influenza outbreaks among humans and poultry.