Infectious Disease · Public Health ·
Serologic evidence of avian influenza exposure found in Egyptian livestock
A serosurveillance study tested 444 livestock serum samples collected from small farms and backyards in northern Egypt between October 2024 and January 2026. Antibodies to H5N1 were detected in 2.9%–4.5% of samples, depending on the assay, and H9N2 antibodies in 2.5%.
- H5N1 antibodies detected in 2.9%–4.5% of samples
- H9N2 antibodies found in 2.5% of samples
- Serology cannot confirm active infection or transmission
- Samples came from 33 sites in northern Egypt
Researchers tested 444 serum samples collected from 33 small farms and backyards in three northern Egyptian governorates. The samples came from cattle, sheep and goats; all sampled animals were apparently healthy adults. Investigators used hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and microneutralization (MN) assays for H5N1 antibodies and HI for H9N2 antibodies, defining titers above 1:40 as positive.
H9N2 antibodies were detected in 11 samples (2.5%). H5N1 antibodies were found in 20 samples (4.5%) by HI and 13 (2.9%) by MN; 12 of the HI-positive samples were also positive by MN. H5N1-positive samples came from cattle. H9N2 antibodies were detected in cattle (6/374), goats (1/31) and sheep (4/39), with higher detection in sheep (p=0.004). Positivity varied by governorate, and H9N2-positive samples were concentrated in three locations in one governorate.
The findings support exposure to avian influenza viruses among livestock, but serology alone cannot confirm active infection, establish transmission routes or show whether animals develop clinical signs. The authors call for further surveillance to verify infection and characterize its frequency and spread. The early-release article is not yet a final version.
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Emerging Infectious Diseases: Serologic Evidence of Avian Influenza Virus Exposure in Livestock, Egypt, 2024–2026 ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.