Avian Influenza Surveillance in the Danube Delta Using Sentinel Geese and Ducks

A five-year sentinel surveillance study in the Danube Delta identified 34 domestic geese and ducks carrying highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N3, demonstrating that these birds serve as effective indicators of viral presence among migrating waterfowl. Researchers placed 20 sentinel birds at seven sites, collecting monthly swabs and sera from 2009 to 2013. Real-time PCR detected H5N3 in 47 samples, with corresponding serological evidence of infection appearing 4–12 weeks later. The study confirms that domestic geese and ducks can reliably monitor avian influenza in delta ecosystems, providing a low-cost, practical method for early detection in high-risk regions like the Danube Delta.

Coman, A., Maftei, D. N., Chereches, R. M., Zavrotchi, E., Bria, P., Dragnea, C., McKenzie, P. P., Valentine, M. A., & Gray, G. C. (2014). Avian Influenza Surveillance in the Danube Delta Using Sentinel Geese and Ducks. Influenza Research and Treatment, 2014, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/965749