Identifying the species-origin of faecal droppings used for avian influenza virus surveillance in wild-birds.

Background: Avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance in birds is important for public health. Faecal droppings from wild-birds are more readily available for such studies, but the inability to identify the species-origin of faecal samples limits their value.

Objectives: To develop, optimise, and field-test a method to simultaneously detect AIV and identify the species-origin from faecal samples.

Poultry drinking water used for avian influenza surveillance.

Samples of drinking water from poultry cages, which can be collected conveniently and noninvasively, provide higher rates of influenza (H9N2) virus isolation than do samples of fecal droppings. Studies to confirm the usefulness of poultry drinking water for detecting influenza (H5N1) should be conducted in disease-endemic areas.