Prevalence and associated risk factors of avian influenza A virus subtypes H5N1 and H9N2 in LBMs of East Java Province, Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

<strong>Background:</strong> Avian influenza A virus subtypes (H5N1) and (H9N2) are contagious zoonotic diseases that are circulating in Indonesia and have raised increasing concern about their potential impacts on poultry and public health. A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of avian influenza A viruses (H5N1 and H9N2) among poultry in wet and live bird markets of four cities in East Java province, Indonesia. <strong>Methods:</strong> A total of 600 tracheal and cloacal swabs (267 from backyards, 179 from broilers, and 154 from layers) from healthy birds were collected. The samples were isolated from specific pathogenic-free embryonated eggs that were 9 days old. The qRT-PCR was used for further identification of avian influenza. <strong>Results:</strong> The overall prevalence of circulating influenza A virus subtypes (H5N1 and H9N2) was 3.8% (23/600, 95%CI: 0.0229-0.0537). Prevalence was higher in backyards at 5.99% (16/267) followed by broilers 2.23% (4/179) and layers 1.68% (3/154). Final multivariable model revealed three risk factors for H9N2 infections “presence of ducks (p=0.003, OR= 38.2), turkeys (p=0.017 OR= 0.032), and pheasants in the stall (p=0.04, OR=18.422) and five factors for H5N1 infections including: observing rodents (p=0.036, OR=0.005), stray dogs access (p= 0.004 OR= &lt;0.001), presence of turkeys (p= 0.03 OR= 0.007), chukars/partridges (p= 0.024 OR= 2500), and peafowls in the stalls (p= 0.0043 OR= &lt;0.001) in LBMs. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The findings of the current study illustrate the recurring infection and presence of both avian influenza viruses and associated risk factors in the surveyed marketplaces. Effective protective measures and mitigation strategies for risks outlined in this study could help to reduce the burden of H5N1 and H9N2 AI subtypes in the LBMs of Indonesia.