Ial poultry flocks. Surveillance included Docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide web active observational, active serologic, and active antigen methods. Counties were chosen based on the proportion of registered backyard flock owners and location of commercial industries and auction markets. In May 2011, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) confidentially mailed 1,000 informational letters and return postcards to poultry owners enrolled in the Maryland Poultry Registration Program. Participants were eligible for the study if they lived in Maryland, owned domesticated fowl, and maintained a flock size fewer than 1,000 birds.Study SitesStudy sites were designated by counties within three regions of Maryland: Northern (Frederick Carroll), Southern (St. Mary’s Charles), and Eastern Shore (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester) (Table 1).Antigen AssaysRNA Purification. Swabs were removed from the BHI transport media and samples vortexed for 5 seconds followed by centrifugation for 5 minutes at 5,0006 g. Supernatant was processed following the organic method protocol [15]. RNA samples were stored at 280uC while awaiting RT-qPCR analysis.Fexinidazole Biosecurity QuestionnaireUpon state and academic review, a four page questionnaire and information sheet was mailed to backyard flock owners. Participants were asked to self-report information on the number and species of poultry reared, presence of other animals, animal husbandry, opportunities for interaction between wild birds and poultry, flock biosecurity measures, and health status of poultry. Questionnaire is available upon request.Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)RT-qPCR was conducted on the Bio-Rad (Hercules, CA) CFX96 Real-Time thermal cycler and analyzed with CFX Manager Software using the one-step QuantiTect SYBRH green RT-PCR kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). For gallinaceous poultry (chickens, turkey, quail, pheasant) tracheal RNA swab samples were used for AIV RT-qPCR analysis as these viruses primarily replicate in the respiratory tract. For waterfowl, cloacal RNA swab samples were used as AI virus primarily replicates in the intestinal tract of these birds [16]. Duplicate samples were prepared using a specific matrix gene primer M+25 (59-AGA TGA GTC TTC TAA CCG AGG TCG-39) and M-124 (59-TGC AAA AAC ATC TTC AAG TCT CTG-39) [15]. Chicken GAPDH specific primers were also included on each 96 well plate as an internal control GAPDH+223 (59- GGC ACT GTC AAG GCT GAG AA-39) andSample CollectionBlood (1? ml) was collected from the brachial vein of each bird and placed in a serum separator vacutainer. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were also collected, and stored in vials containing 2.5 ml of protein based brain-heart infusion (BHI) transport media. All tubes were labeled with date, species, sample type, and location. Once samples were collected, they were stored at 4uC (24?48 hours) until processed.Biosecurity in Maryland Backyard PoultryTable 1. Outline of dates, locations, and species per sampled backyard flock.Date of Sample CollectionFlock IDRegiona/CountySampled Species Chicken Turkey Duck Guinea Fowl PheasantTotal Birds Sampled7/15/1 2 3 4(N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (S) Charles.Ial poultry flocks. Surveillance included active observational, active serologic, and active antigen methods. Counties were chosen based on the proportion of registered backyard flock owners and location of commercial industries and auction markets. In May 2011, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) confidentially mailed 1,000 informational letters and return postcards to poultry owners enrolled in the Maryland Poultry Registration Program. Participants were eligible for the study if they lived in Maryland, owned domesticated fowl, and maintained a flock size fewer than 1,000 birds.Study SitesStudy sites were designated by counties within three regions of Maryland: Northern (Frederick Carroll), Southern (St. Mary’s Charles), and Eastern Shore (Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester) (Table 1).Antigen AssaysRNA Purification. Swabs were removed from the BHI transport media and samples vortexed for 5 seconds followed by centrifugation for 5 minutes at 5,0006 g. Supernatant was processed following the organic method protocol [15]. RNA samples were stored at 280uC while awaiting RT-qPCR analysis.Biosecurity QuestionnaireUpon state and academic review, a four page questionnaire and information sheet was mailed to backyard flock owners. Participants were asked to self-report information on the number and species of poultry reared, presence of other animals, animal husbandry, opportunities for interaction between wild birds and poultry, flock biosecurity measures, and health status of poultry. Questionnaire is available upon request.Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)RT-qPCR was conducted on the Bio-Rad (Hercules, CA) CFX96 Real-Time thermal cycler and analyzed with CFX Manager Software using the one-step QuantiTect SYBRH green RT-PCR kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). For gallinaceous poultry (chickens, turkey, quail, pheasant) tracheal RNA swab samples were used for AIV RT-qPCR analysis as these viruses primarily replicate in the respiratory tract. For waterfowl, cloacal RNA swab samples were used as AI virus primarily replicates in the intestinal tract of these birds [16]. Duplicate samples were prepared using a specific matrix gene primer M+25 (59-AGA TGA GTC TTC TAA CCG AGG TCG-39) and M-124 (59-TGC AAA AAC ATC TTC AAG TCT CTG-39) [15]. Chicken GAPDH specific primers were also included on each 96 well plate as an internal control GAPDH+223 (59- GGC ACT GTC AAG GCT GAG AA-39) andSample CollectionBlood (1? ml) was collected from the brachial vein of each bird and placed in a serum separator vacutainer. Tracheal and cloacal swabs were also collected, and stored in vials containing 2.5 ml of protein based brain-heart infusion (BHI) transport media. All tubes were labeled with date, species, sample type, and location. Once samples were collected, they were stored at 4uC (24?48 hours) until processed.Biosecurity in Maryland Backyard PoultryTable 1. Outline of dates, locations, and species per sampled backyard flock.Date of Sample CollectionFlock IDRegiona/CountySampled Species Chicken Turkey Duck Guinea Fowl PheasantTotal Birds Sampled7/15/1 2 3 4(N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (S) St. Mary’s (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (E) Wicomico (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (N) Frederick (S) Charles.
