On March 2013, the Libyan poultry industry faced severe outbreaks due to mixed infections of APMV-1 (Newcastle disease) and low pathogenic avian influenza (AI) of the H9N2 subtype which were causing high mortality and great economic losses. APMV-1 and H9N2 were isolated and characterized. Genetic sequencing of the APMV-1/chicken/Libya/13VIR/ 7225-1/2013 isolate revealed the presence of a velogenic APMV-1 belonging to lineage 5 (GRRRQKR*F Lin.5) or genotype VII in class II, according to the nomenclature in use. Three AI viruses of the H9N2 subtype, namely A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-2/2013, A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-3/2013, and A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-5/2013, were isolated and found to belong to the G1 lineage. Analysis of amino acid sequences showed that the analyzed H9N2 viruses contained the amino acid Leu at position 226 (H3 numbering) at the receptor binding site of the HA, responsible for human virus-like receptor specificity. On March 2014, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the H5N1 subtype was diagnosed in a backyard poultry farm in an eastern region of Libya. The H5N1 isolate (A/chicken/Libya/14VIR2749-16/2014) was detected by real time RT-PCR (rRTPCR). Genetic characterization of the HA gene revealed that the identified subtype was highly pathogenic, belonged to the 2.2.1 lineage, and clustered with recent Egyptian viruses. This study revealed the presence of a velogenic APMV-1 genotype and of two influenza subtypes, namely HPAI H5N1 and H9N2, which are of major interest for public and animal health. Considering these findings, more investigations must be undertaken to establish and implement adequate influenza surveillance programs; this would allow better study of the epidemiology of APMV-1 genotype VII in Libya and evaluation of the current vaccination strategies.
Abdulwahab Kammon(5-2015)

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza, Infectious Bronchitis, and Infectious laryngotracheitis in some regions of Tripoli-Libya. Serum samples were collected from Four broiler farms in Wadi Alrabea area, two layer farms and one backyard farm in Gaser Bin Gasher, two layer farms in Alswani and one backyard farm in Zliten City and screened for the presence of antibodies against LPAI-H9, HPIA-H5, HPIA-H7, ND, IB 4/91 strain using the HI test and antibodies against ILT virus by ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 and ILT was 26.5%,0%,0%,, 29.5%,43% and 30% respectively. All sera tested for AI-H5 and AI-H7 were negative. In Wadi Alrabea flocks, seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 and ILT was 44%, 0%, 0%, 16.28%, 32.56% and 0% respectively. Where as in Gaser Bin Ghasher, was 24%,0%, 0%, 33.87, 36.29% and 39% respectively. In Alswani, the seroprevalence was 8.70%, 0%, 0%, 52.17%, 54.35% and 54.3%. The seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7 in Gaser Bin Ghasher backyard chickens was 23%, 0%, 0% respectively and the seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 of Zliten backyards was 12%, 0%, 0%, 12%, 96% respectively. Further investigations are recommended to identify the circulating virus genotypes and models of transmission for better understanding of these viruses epidemiology in backyard chickens in Libya. Vaccination of backyard chickens against ND using heat resistant strain is highly recommended.
Housen Ashareef Mohammed, Abdulatif Abdulaziz Asheg (10-2021)

Abstract Avian paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1) is the causative agent of Newcastle Disease which affects many species of birds leading to high mortality and heavy economic losses among poultry industry worldwide. Newcastle disease is endemic in Libya with frequent outbreaks occurring in commercial and backyard poultry. APMV-1 was isolated and characterised during the outbreak in 2013. In current study, we report another Newcastle disease outbreak that emerged in backyard chickens and pigeons in Alzintan city on March 2015. Two viruses were detected in cloacal swabs from backyard chickens, namely APMV-1/Libya/15VIR5368/2015 and APMV-1/Libya/15VIR5371/2015. Genetic sequencing of these viruses revealed the presence of velogenic APMV-1 belonging to genotype VIIi genetically similar to the viruses isolated on 2013. During the same period, neurologic signs and mortality were noticed in pigeons. Samples of brain tissue were tested by rRT-PCR which revealed presence of velogenic APMV-1 belonging to lineage 4A (GKKRKR*F Lin.4A) or genotype VIb. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection and molecular characterization of APMV-1 in a pigeon in Libya. The phylogenetic analysis of the F gene showed 86% identity to isolates from Iran and Egypt. This study may indicate the circulation of APMV-1 within backyard birds and pigeons which may present a threat to commercial poultry. Considering these findings, vaccination of backyard birds and pigeons and further epidemiological studies are strongly strongly recommended. arabic 19 English 111
Abdulwahab Kammon, Isabella Monne, Abdulatif Asheg , Giovanni Cattoli (1-2018)