Exotic and aquatic zoological birds harbour highly pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus, 2021: continuous threat to poultry production, food security and public health in Nigeria

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in aquatic and exotic birds Influenza is a major infectious disease challenge affecting animal and human health globally, and wild birds are historically the primary reservoirs of all the known Influenza A virus subtypes. Here, we detected the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in exotic and aquatic birds in three different locations in Nigeria. On the 8th of February 2021, exotic birds: Yellow Golden Pheasant ( Chrysolophus pictus ), Sultan chicken ( Gallus gallus domesticus) , Lakenvelder chicken ( Gallus gallus domesticus ), and Common pheasant ( Phasianus calchicus ), imported from Libya and transported across the Niger Republic border to Nigeria, were presented to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for screening. Also, a family in Lagos State bought some exotic aquatic birds from a live bird market in Sokoto State, Nigeria, where sudden death was recorded with the birds showing few clinical signs. Similarly, the sudden death of some aquatic birds was reported in Mandela Parks and Gardens in Asaba, Delta State, few weeks after some captured wild birds were introduced to the Park and Gardens. Oropharyngeal, cloacal, and tissue samples were all collected from the reported cases. Total viral nucleic acid was extracted and screened for Influenza A viruses using real-time RT-PCR. The HPAI viruses H5N1 and H5N8 were detected in the imported aquatic (geese and ducks) and exotic (yellow golden pheasant) birds. The samples tested negative for low-pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H9N2) as well as other avian viruses, viz., Avian avulavirus-1 ( Newcastle disease Virus) and infectious bronchitis virus. This highlights the role of these birds in the local transmission and spread of the HPAI virus to domestic poultry. The findings call for proper biosecurity and quarantine measures for exotic and wild birds to reduce the potential risk.