Avian flu and need for new testing paradigm
It’s clear the industry needs fast, accurate and affordable tests for avian flu that can be conducted in the field
By Shaun Holt
Avian influenza is a global crisis. Not only have outbreaks among commercial poultry grown steadily, resulting in billions of dollars in losses due to dead and destroyed birds, but the virus has spread to wild birds and dozens of mammalian species. Since the start of the current outbreak in February, 2022, it has proven to be the worst in history for the United States, affecting more than 8- million domestic fowl, which surpasses the record of 50 million poultry and up to $3 billion in losses in 2015. Given that the 2015 outbreak was also the most expensive animal health disaster in U.S. history, it’s likely that the most recent one will beat it on that count, as well. The H5N1 variant is currently the biggest concern, because it is so widespread and so deadly. It’s not uncommon for a farmer to notice a single bird showing symptoms and then, two to three days later, the entire flock of thousands is dead or dying.The virus has disrupted global trade, as well. Recently, for instance, France began vaccinating domestic ducks against the virus, which led the United States to block some imports of French poultry. Vaccination does protect birds against disease, but birds can still be infected by and transmit the virus. Because they show no symptoms, there’s no way to determine whether the vaccinated birds carry the avian influenza virus.
The danger isn’t limited to domestic poultry. The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain spread to migratory birds in 2005, which has fueled its rapid spread around the world. And while there’s no evidence yet that mammals can transmit the virus easily to other mammals, scientists have identified infections in 18 different species.
There have also been almost 250 documented cases of H5N1 in humans since 2003, and in 56% of these, the patient died. Almost all of these infections have occurred due to close contact with infected poultry, but scientists have determined that just a few key mutations could enable the virus to spread effectively from human to human, causing a pandemic that could be far worse than the one we just recently lived through.The first step in treating avian influenza and controlling the spread is testing. The earlier an infection is detected, the faster farmers and authorities can take action to contain the virus. But the current situation for testing poses some significant challenges. There are two types of tests that are in common use. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) can accurately detect even low levels of the virus, but samples must be sent to a lab to conduct the test itself. The logistics are complex, because the sample must be properly stored, especially since it’s potentially pathogenic. It can also be costly. But most notably, depending on capacity, results can take anywhere from a day to a week or more to be returned, and that gives the virus a lot of time to infect additional birds and potentially spread to additional farms.The other common type is antigen testing. Unlike PCR, this method provides rapid results and can be conducted in the field. Unfortunately, however, antigen testing is much less precise than PCR, providing a significant number of false negatives, and is typically used to confirm a known result rather than proactive testing. The industry needs a new testing paradigm: fast and accurate tests that can be conducted in the field at the point of need. There is a candidate. LAMP technology is a molecular test like PCR, so it’s accurate, but unlike PCR, LAMP does not require thermal cycling. So, as long as the device that contains the test is ruggedized and portable, it’s possible to conduct the tests in the field and get results in about a half an hour or less.
Whatever the technology, however, it’s clear that the industry needs fast, accurate and affordable tests for avian flu that can be conducted in the field. It’s the only way the industry can detect the virus fast enough to take preventative action. There’s no time to waste. The virus is showing no signs of slowing down, and it’s constantly mutating. There’s much more than just avian health at stake.
Shaun Holt is the CEO of Alveo Technologies.
