On March 2013, the Libyan poultry industry faced severe outbreaks due to mixed infections of APMV-1 (Newcastle disease) and low pathogenic avian influenza (AI) of the H9N2 subtype which were causing high mortality and great economic losses. APMV-1 and H9N2 were isolated and characterized. Genetic sequencing of the APMV-1/chicken/Libya/13VIR/ 7225-1/2013 isolate revealed the presence of a velogenic APMV-1 belonging to lineage 5 (GRRRQKR*F Lin.5) or genotype VII in class II, according to the nomenclature in use. Three AI viruses of the H9N2 subtype, namely A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-2/2013, A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-3/2013, and A/avian/Libya/13VIR7225-5/2013, were isolated and found to belong to the G1 lineage. Analysis of amino acid sequences showed that the analyzed H9N2 viruses contained the amino acid Leu at position 226 (H3 numbering) at the receptor binding site of the HA, responsible for human virus-like receptor specificity. On March 2014, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the H5N1 subtype was diagnosed in a backyard poultry farm in an eastern region of Libya. The H5N1 isolate (A/chicken/Libya/14VIR2749-16/2014) was detected by real time RT-PCR (rRTPCR). Genetic characterization of the HA gene revealed that the identified subtype was highly pathogenic, belonged to the 2.2.1 lineage, and clustered with recent Egyptian viruses. This study revealed the presence of a velogenic APMV-1 genotype and of two influenza subtypes, namely HPAI H5N1 and H9N2, which are of major interest for public and animal health. Considering these findings, more investigations must be undertaken to establish and implement adequate influenza surveillance programs; this would allow better study of the epidemiology of APMV-1 genotype VII in Libya and evaluation of the current vaccination strategies.
Abdulwahab Kammon(5-2015)

LOCUS KF632582 547 bp DNA linear VRL 07-DEC-2013 DEFINITION Gallid herpesvirus 1 strain ILT-1 glycoprotein G gene, partial cds. ACCESSION KF632582 VERSION KF632582.1
Abdulatif Asheg(9-2013)

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza, Infectious Bronchitis, and Infectious laryngotracheitis in some regions of Tripoli-Libya. Serum samples were collected from Four broiler farms in Wadi Alrabea area, two layer farms and one backyard farm in Gaser Bin Gasher, two layer farms in Alswani and one backyard farm in Zliten City and screened for the presence of antibodies against LPAI-H9, HPIA-H5, HPIA-H7, ND, IB 4/91 strain using the HI test and antibodies against ILT virus by ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 and ILT was 26.5%,0%,0%,, 29.5%,43% and 30% respectively. All sera tested for AI-H5 and AI-H7 were negative. In Wadi Alrabea flocks, seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 and ILT was 44%, 0%, 0%, 16.28%, 32.56% and 0% respectively. Where as in Gaser Bin Ghasher, was 24%,0%, 0%, 33.87, 36.29% and 39% respectively. In Alswani, the seroprevalence was 8.70%, 0%, 0%, 52.17%, 54.35% and 54.3%. The seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7 in Gaser Bin Ghasher backyard chickens was 23%, 0%, 0% respectively and the seroprevalence of H9, H5, H7, ND, IB4/91 of Zliten backyards was 12%, 0%, 0%, 12%, 96% respectively. Further investigations are recommended to identify the circulating virus genotypes and models of transmission for better understanding of these viruses epidemiology in backyard chickens in Libya. Vaccination of backyard chickens against ND using heat resistant strain is highly recommended.
Housen Ashareef Mohammed, Abdulatif Abdulaziz Asheg (10-2021)