Epidemiological characterization of avian influenza virus circulation in pigeons and quail across different production systems in Chattogram, Bangladesh
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, Bangladesh.
- 2Zoonotic Disease Research Program, Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- 3National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
- 4Gulbali Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
- 5Queensland Alliance for One Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia.
Abstract
Pigeons and quail contribute to poultry production, nutrition, and livelihoods in Bangladesh; however, their role in avian influenza virus (AIV) circulation remains poorly understood. These poultry species are widely reared and traded alongside chickens and ducks in household farms, commercial systems, and live bird markets, where inadequate biosecurity may create an overlooked ecological niche for AIV circulation, reassortment, and potential zoonotic spillover. Between November 2021 and April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Chattogram, Bangladesh, to estimate the prevalence and subtype-specific distribution of AIV and to identify factors associated with AIV positivity in pigeons and quail. A total of 300 birds (108 pigeons and 192 quail) were sampled from households, commercial farms, and live bird markets. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected from each bird and tested for the AIV matrix gene using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, followed by subtype-specific detection of H5, H7, and H9. Data collected from bird owners and traders included bird demographic characteristics, bird source, and health status using a structured questionnaire. The overall prevalence of AIV was 14.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6–18.8). Quail had a higher prevalence (18.2%, 95% CI: 13.0–24.4) than pigeons (7.4%, 95% CI: 3.3–14.1). Among detected subtypes, H9 was most prevalent (11.3%, 95% CI: 7.9–15.4), followed by hemagglutinin (HA)-untyped (2.7%, 95% CI: 1.2–5.1) and H5 (0.3%, 95% CI: 0.001–1.8), while H7 was not detected. Quail had higher odds of AIV positivity than pigeons (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.8–10.6); clinically sick birds (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2) and birds sampled from household farms (aOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2–6.5) also had higher odds of AIV positivity. These findings indicate that pigeons and quails, which are understudied poultry species, may contribute to the maintenance and transmission of AIV within mixed poultry production and marketing systems in Bangladesh. Integrating these species into routine AIV surveillance is therefore necessary to strengthen early detection, inform control strategies, and reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover.
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BibTeX
@article{habib2026epidemiological,
title = {{Epidemiological characterization of avian influenza virus circulation in pigeons and quail across different production systems in Chattogram, Bangladesh}},
author = {Mohammad Iqbal Habib and Md Abu Sayeed and Monjurul Islam and Mohammad Ferdous Rahman Sarker and Sydus Shalekin Shakil and Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan and Jade K Forwood and Abdul Ahad and Ariful Islam},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0361561},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361561},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Epidemiological characterization of avian influenza virus circulation in pigeons and quail across different production systems in Chattogram, Bangladesh
AU - Mohammad Iqbal Habib
AU - Md Abu Sayeed
AU - Monjurul Islam
AU - Mohammad Ferdous Rahman Sarker
AU - Sydus Shalekin Shakil
AU - Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan
AU - Jade K Forwood
AU - Abdul Ahad
AU - Ariful Islam
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0361561
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361561
AB - Pigeons and quail contribute to poultry production, nutrition, and livelihoods in Bangladesh; however, their role in avian influenza virus (AIV) circulation remains poorly understood. These poultry species are widely reared and traded alongside chickens and ducks in household farms, commercial systems, and live bird markets, where inadequate biosecurity may create an overlooked ecological niche for AIV circulation, reassortment, and potential zoonotic spillover. Between November 2021 and April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Chattogram, Bangladesh, to estimate the prevalence and subtype-specific distribution of AIV and to identify factors associated with AIV positivity in pigeons and quail. A total of 300 birds (108 pigeons and 192 quail) were sampled from households, commercial farms, and live bird markets. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected from each bird and tested for the AIV matrix gene using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, followed by subtype-specific detection of H5, H7, and H9. Data collected from bird owners and traders included bird demographic characteristics, bird source, and health status using a structured questionnaire. The overall prevalence of AIV was 14.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6–18.8). Quail had a higher prevalence (18.2%, 95% CI: 13.0–24.4) than pigeons (7.4%, 95% CI: 3.3–14.1). Among detected subtypes, H9 was most prevalent (11.3%, 95% CI: 7.9–15.4), followed by hemagglutinin (HA)-untyped (2.7%, 95% CI: 1.2–5.1) and H5 (0.3%, 95% CI: 0.001–1.8), while H7 was not detected. Quail had higher odds of AIV positivity than pigeons (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.8–10.6); clinically sick birds (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4–6.2) and birds sampled from household farms (aOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2–6.5) also had higher odds of AIV positivity. These findings indicate that pigeons and quails, which are understudied poultry species, may contribute to the maintenance and transmission of AIV within mixed poultry production and marketing systems in Bangladesh. Integrating these species into routine AIV surveillance is therefore necessary to strengthen early detection, inform control strategies, and reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -