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. 2021 Jul 24;13(8):1445.
doi: 10.3390/v13081445.

Live Bird Markets in Nigeria: A Potential Reservoir for H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses

Lanre Sulaiman  1 , Ismaila Shittu  1 , Alice Fusaro  2 , Bitrus Inuwa  1 , Bianca Zecchin  2 , Dorcas Gado  1 , Alessia Schivo  2 , Alice Bianco  2 , Agnes Laleye  1 , Federica Gobbo  2 , Columba Vakuru  3 , Tony Joannis  1 , Isabella Monne  2 , Clement Meseko  1
Affiliations

Live Bird Markets in Nigeria: A Potential Reservoir for H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses

Lanre Sulaiman et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Since 2006, multiple outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) have been reported in Nigeria involving different subtypes. Surveillance and molecular epidemiology have revealed the vital role of live bird markets (LBMs) in the dissemination of AI virus to commercial poultry farms. To better understand the ecology and epidemiology of AI in Nigeria, we performed whole-genome sequencing of nineteen H9N2 viruses recovered, from apparently healthy poultry species, during active surveillance conducted in nine LBMs across Nigeria in 2019. Analyses of the HA gene segment of these viruses showed that the H9N2 strains belong to the G1 lineage, which has zoonotic potential, and are clustered with contemporary H9N2 identified in Africa between 2016 and 2020. We observed two distinct clusters of H9N2 viruses in Nigeria, suggesting different introductions into the country. In view of the zoonotic potential of H9N2 and the co-circulation of multiple subtypes of AI virus in Nigeria, continuous monitoring of the LBMs across the country and molecular characterization of AIVs identified is advocated to mitigate economic losses and public health threats.

Keywords: Nigeria; avian influenza H9N2; live bird markets; multiple introductions; poultry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A map of Nigeria showing all the states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The locations where the H9N2 viruses were obtained are highlighted in yellow (cluster I) and blue (cluster II).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree of the HA gene (IQ-TREE v.1.6.8). The H9N2 viruses from Nigeria are marked in red. Ultra-fast bootstrap supports higher than 80% are indicated next to the nodes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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