Molecular identification of avian influenza virus A subtypes H5 and H7 in domestic geese and ducks in Basrah, South of Iraq

Waterfowl are the main reservoir for most influenza A virus subtypes, and they can effectively transmit these viruses to other birds and humans. This study aims to identify two influenza virus subtypes, H5 and H7, in domestic geese and ducks in Basrah governorate, Southern Iraq. 310 cloacal swabs were obtained from 150 domestic geese and 160 domestic ducks from different geographical areas. The viruses were first detected by RT-PCR using a pair of universal primers. All positive samples underwent RT-PCR using gene-specific primers to identify H5 and H7 influenza virus subtypes. The results showed that the prevalence of influenza viruses detected through universal primers was 37.7%. Of these, 24.6% and 50% were positive for viruses in domestic geese and ducks, respectively. Regarding virus subtyping in geese, the infection rates with H5 and H7 were 43.2% and 29.7%, respectively, with 27% as a combination of the two, while in domestic ducks, the infection rate with H5 was 27.5%, and with H7 it was 15%. Interestingly, ducks had a high concurrent infection rate for both H5 and H7 subtypes, accounting for 57.5%. The study concluded that the two virus subtypes, individually or simultaneously, were present in domestic waterfowl in regions of Basrah, and they were higher in ducks than in geese.