Poultry trading networks in Bangladesh: implications for control and surveillance of avian influenza

N. Moyen, MD Ahsanul Hoque, Rashed Mahmud, Mahmudul Hasan, Tony Barnett, Paritosh K. Biswas, Nitish C. Debnath, Mohammad Giasuddin, Joerg Henning, E. Hoeg, M Hossain, Punam Mangtani, Meerjady Sabrina FLora, M. Rahman, G. Ahmed, Suman Gupta, T. Tenzin, R. Khan, T Khan, M. YamageDirk Udo Pfeiffer, Guillaume Fournié

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paperConference paperpeer-review

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Abstract

Highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 has been consideredendemic in Bangladesh for ten years now. Live bird trading and marketing play a major role in the maintenance of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). In Bangladesh, live bird trading is ubiquitous, more than 90% of poultry are marketed through live bird markets (LBMs). Yet, national poultry trading networks and patterns have scarcely been described, nor have their potential role in virus spread and maintenance been assessed. This study aimed at assessing the potential of poultry trading networks to facilitate AIV spread and maintenance, and to identify suitable targets for control and surveillance programs.Data on poultry trading practices in Bangladesh was collected during two cross-sectional questionnaire surveys. A first survey, conducted in 2014, included 849 poultry traders from 138 LBMs in 17 districts. A second survey, conducted in 2015, included over 2,000 poultry traders from 159 LBMs in 3 sub-districts. The network of contacts between farms and LBMs resulting from commercial movements of live poultry across Bangladesh were constructed according to poultry types and their key characteristics were compared. Poultry trading routes were compared according to their relative importance and the type of intermediates involved in the poultry transaction chain.Poultry trading practices and routes varied according to poultry type. Industrial broiler chickens, the most commonly traded poultry, were generally sold in LBMs close to their production areas, whereas ducks and backyard chickens were moved over longer distances, and their transportation involved a greater number of actors. They also spent more time in transport between their farm of origin and the consumerthan broilers. Although trading routes differed according to poultry types, they interacted in LBMs, shaping a highly connected and disassortative poultry trading network that could promoteAIV spread and maintenance. The removal of small number of LBMssignificantly reduced its connectedness, and the maximum size of potential epidemics. Knowledge of trading patterns could be used to target control and surveillance interventions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe 9th One Health Bangladesh Conference
Publisher9th One Health Bangladesh Conference
Pages76
Number of pages1
Edition9
Publication statusPublished - 17 Sept 2017

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