SEROLOGICAL STUDY ON H9N2 AVIAN INFLUENZA INFECTION OF HUMAN HABITANCE IN SHAHREKORD AREA

Orthomixoviridae family viruses (Influenza viruses) are major cause of death in human with respiratory diseases. Although avian influenza in Iranian chickens are associated with H9N2 subtype, there was not any study for H9N2 human infection as yet. This investigation conducted to serological study of H9N2 avian influenza infection in different human groups. The number of 334 blood sera including 136 serum samples of hospitalized patients with respiratory complications, 130 sera of hospitalized patients without respiratory complications, 42 sera of farmers and poultry workers and 26 sera of students and related ones to veterinary profession were collected. The influenza virus antibody titres were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assey (ELISA) and hemagglotination inhibition (HI) tests. 59.1% of hospitalized patients, 88.1% of farmers and poultry workers, 80.7% of students and related ones to veterinary profession were positive to influenza virus type A contamination by using ELISA test. In HI test, 17.6% of hospitalized patients with respiratory complications, 54.8% of farmers and poultry workers, 30.8% of students and related ones to veterinary profession were positive for H9N2 subtype of avian influenza type A. These groups were compared one by one by T test (p<0.05). The results indicated that different groups of humans were infected with H9N2 avian influenza virus whence farmers and poultry workers were shown more infection.