July 29, 2024

 

New avian influenza test detects H5N1 in poultry, cattle, and humans

US-based company Alveo Technologies Inc has announced the development of a rapid molecular test for detecting the latest H5N1 avian influenza variants in poultry, cattle, and humans, Food Safety News reported.

 

Alveo plans to begin shipping the avian flu test for poultry to the EU and Middle East this quarter. The company has demonstrated through computer simulations that their test can detect H5N1 viruses found in recent human infections in Colorado. Alveo is also working on developing a test for cattle and humans.

 

Alveo has shown in silico that its handheld, point-of-need molecular diagnostic can detect the H5N1 variant using sequences from recent human infections in Colorado and infected cattle. On July 15 and 16, GISAID (the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) released the genetic sequence of the H5N1 viruses that recently infected a dairy farm worker in Colorado.

 

GISAID noted a "mammalian adaptation marker (E627K)" in the farm worker. The transmission method among cattle remains unknown, raising concerns about the virus potentially being reintroduced to commercial poultry or adapting further to mammals. This ongoing outbreak among cattle increases the risk of H5N1 spreading efficiently among humans.

 

The UK Health Security Agency reported in May that the baseline risk of H5N1 evolving to cause human transmission was previously considered remote (0-5%). The risk has now increased, though it is still considered unlikely (10-35%).

 

Alveo emphasizes that testing is crucial in fighting emerging infectious diseases. Recent outbreaks underscore the need to increase testing capacity for both animals and humans for avian influenza. Alveo's in silico analysis using their previously developed Avian influenza A subtype H5 LAMP designs on human and bovine sequences from GISAID shows that their H5 designs match all 12 reported emerging influenza A subtype H5 sequences, suggesting the LAMP Avian influenza assay can detect these sequences, including human variants.

 

Alveo expects to begin shipping the Flockscreen LAMP Avian Influenza Molecular Test for poultry to Europe and the Middle East in the third quarter of 2024, following validation and verification with regulatory bodies. The company is also working to validate avian influenza diagnostics for human and bovine use cases.

 

Shaun Holt, CEO of Alveo Technologies, stated, "Avian influenza has already caused significant damage to the poultry industry and wild bird populations. We have time to prevent H5N1 from evolving into a virus that spreads efficiently among people, but we need fast, precise diagnostics for humans and animals. Alveo's rapid molecular testing platform can fill this gap, providing accurate results to supplement limited lab resources. Our efforts in developing the H5N1 test and partnering with industry leaders have confirmed its sensitivity and specificity for real-world use."

 

-      Food Safety News