A brief introduction to avian influenza virus

Abstract

Avian infl uenza virus (AIV) causes a disease of high economic importance for poultry production worldwide.The earliest recorded cases of probable high-pathogenicity AIV in poultry were reported in Italy in the1870s, and avian infl uenza has been recognized in domestic poultry through the modern era of poultryproduction. Approaches to control vary widely, but elimination of the disease in poultry is a common goal.The basics of AIV biology, clinical disease, molecular aspects, and AIV detection are briefl y reviewed.