serological study of influenza subtype A/H9N2 by ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition among the poultry workers in Ahwaz, Iran [2003-4]

Background and Purpose: Type a influenza virus causes infection in man, avian and primates. It has recently been reported that avian H5N1 and H9N2 subtypes were transferred to man. The purpose of the study is, therefore, to investigate the probability of H9N2 transmission from poultry to people engaged in poultry farming industries

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Methods and material: In this study, serological tests were carried out on 100 blood samples of contacted cases and special antibody of H9N2 subtype was measured by hemagglutination inhibition. Also, the sensitivity and specificity of the prepared ELISA test kit were measured in comparison with the standard method of hemagglutination inhibition. Out of 100 HI tests, 45 cases were normally selected and measured by ELISA

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Results: 66 percent of contacted cases had the specific H9N2 antibody. ELISA specificity and sensitivity, in comparison with HI, were 20% and 87.5% respectively

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Conclusion: The Presence of H9N2 antibody in the subject's serum suggest the prevalence of H9N2 virus among poultry, its transfer to people exposed and the possibility of their infection. Also, diagnosis influenza H9N2 antibody