Stray Animal Management in Hong Kong (PDF)

One Health Presentation Wild and stray animal management in Hong Kong – an infectious disease perspective Prof. Thomas Sit Chief Veterinary Officer Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department  Content Main Zoonosis of the World...

One Health Presentation Wild and stray animal management in Hong Kong – an infectious disease perspective Prof. Thomas Sit Chief Veterinary Officer Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department  Content Main Zoonosis of the World Role of AFCD Wild and Stray Animal Management Photos credit: www.pexels.com Zoonosis of the World  Nipah disease - migration Migratory Birds  FMD ? footd month disease Avian Influenza (AI) Caused by influenza A (Alphainfluenzavirus) viruses in domestic poultry and a wide range of other birds Genus: Alphainfluenzavirus Family: Orthomyxoviridae A transmission electron micrograph of influenza A virus particles Known informally as avian flu, bird flu or fowl Photo Source: www.intechopen.com/media/chapter/51897/media/fig2.png plague There are seven (7) influenza genera  Avian Influenza Viruses are further classified into highly pathogenic (HPAI) lowly pathogenic (LPAI) based on their ability to cause disease and mortality in infected birds Avian Influenza HPAI, is classified as an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) greater than 1.2 (or as an alternative at least 75% mortality) usually of the groups H5 and H7 may be identified by molecular method with the presence of a sequence at the haemagglutinin cleavage site that codes - for multiple basic amino acids 3  US : avian infuenza jumpedto diay cattle Avian Influenza outbreak Zoonotic potential via close contact with infected birds Humans: Conjunctivitis and other respiratory symptoms some viruses tend to cause severe illness, and even death in rare cases, e.g. H5N1, in 1997 H7N9, in 2013 Outbreaks of avian influenza continue to be a global public health concern Transmission ▫ Direct contact ▫ Indirect contact - ⬝ Fomites ⬝ Environment, e.g. water source, vehicles (for poultry) - Source: veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13567-018- bird sized -> drops > - airborned 0604-0 antibodies in dreks geets - legislationt + fecrt [ Y separation u ~ chickens > in blood -  Reservoir Wild birds are natural hosts and reservoirs play a major role in the evolution, maintenance, and spread of these viruses incidence of infection: seasonal infected without clinical sign and carry the viruses along migration flyways https://cms.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/press-release/eaafp-announcement Clinical Signs and Mortality Depending on the species of bird and the characters of virus small cerebelum > less fine movement. - LPAI Swollen sinuses Normal chicken (arrowed) ▫ usually cause mild illnesses (respiratory signs, lethargy etc.) or asymptomatic infections ▫ more severe with concurrent infections or exacerbating factors (environmental stress) HPAI ▫ usually cause severe illness in chickens and turkeys ▫ sudden death may occur Source: www.walkervillevet.com.au/blog/espiratory-infections-chickens/r Monitoring AI at Places where Wild Birds Congregate Daily surveillance of wild birds in Mai Po Nature Reserve and the Hong Kong Wetland Park Dead or sick birds found are sent to the Department to test for AI  Monitoring of Aviaries and Bird Parks ▫ Birds in aviaries and bird parks are monitored ⬝ including Ocean Park, Kadoorie Farm, Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Penfold Park and Yuen Long Park ⬝ Faecal samples collected from cages and environment are tested for AI ⬝ Sick or dead birds suspected with AI or their faecal samples are sent to the Veterinary Laboratory for testing Sick or Dead Wild Birds Throat swab and faecal samples are taken from dead birds for H5 and H7 virus testing as appropriate. About 8,818 and 8,153 wild birds carcasses were collected by AFCD in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 2 and 3 wild bird carcasses have been tested positive for H5/H7 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Test Methods AI specific genome detection by PCR methods Necropsy & histopathology examination Immunoperoxidase test on frozen tissue sections Virus isolation Anti-H5 and Anti-H7 antibodies detection (Haemagglutination Inhibition test- HI test) BSL level 3 laboratory WHO When Infected Wild Birds are Detected… The Mai Po Nature Reserve or the Wetland Park will be temporarily closed if within 10 days 3 or more infected birds are found within 3-km radius. Enhanced sampling and disease investigation will be conducted. When Infected Wild Birds Are Detected… The Department of Health will conduct epidemiological investigation to persons who have had contact with the infected birds. Surveillance will be stepped up at the location in question for 21 days. incubation period of a geop / birds. Any other wild birds found dead will be sent for testing. The surveillance period may be extended depending on test results.  Number of HPAI cases 0 1 2 3 Jan-17 Feb-17 Mar-17 Apr-17 May-17 Jun-17 Jul-17 Aug-17 Sep-17 Oct-17 Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18 Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 Hong Kong May-20 Jun-20 Year and month of submission Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 (from 2017 to 2022) Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 Jun-21 Jul-21 Aug-21 Sep-21 Surveillance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Oct-21 Nov-21 Influenza in Wild Bird Carcasses Collected in Dec-21 Jan-22 Feb-22 Mar-22 Apr-22 May-22 The cases usually occurred during colder months, such as November to February. A total of 10 HPAI cases were detected in wild bird carcasses from 2017 to 2022. Jun-22 Jul-22 Aug-22 Sep-22 Oct-22 Nov-22 Dec-22  : pigeon suspecilable least for Arian influenza Feral Pigeon Management Issue: Congregation of feral Spikes installed on the roof of pigeons due to feeding building to prevent pigeons form congregating  Feral Pigeon Management On 1 August 2024, The Wild Animals Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 come into operation. ▫ expand to cover feral pigeons ▫ increase the maximum penalty to $100,000 and imprisonment for one year ▫ introduce a fixed penalty of $5,000 Education and Publicity  Other AFCD efforts Collaboration with WOAH HKU consultancy studies Centre for Health Protection Photos credit: www.pexels.com Other AFCD efforts ▰ Collaboration with the World ▰ City U, examples: Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) ▰ Expert advice for disease outbreak ▰ Disease reporting and animal management ▰ Webinars ▰ Risk assessment on movement of ▰ Meetings animals ▰ Diagnostics and pathology ▰ HKU Consultancy Study / Research ▰ Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) ▰ Monitoring trend of AMR in stray animals ▰ HKU Collaboration on laboratory testing ▰ Centre for Health Protection and support, example: ▰ Scientific Committee on Emerging ▰ SAR-CoV-2, avian influenza and Zoonotic Diseases Thank you