^aQuality Operational Lab, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; ^bUniversity Diagnostic Lab, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; ^cInstitute for Animal Health Compton, UK; ^dDepartemnt of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan; eDepartment of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: nadiamukhtar84@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The present study describes the seroprevalence of avian influenza subtype H9N2 among human population of three districts, Lahore (n = 197), Rawalpindi (n = 205) and Faisalabad (n = 119). Serum samples (n = 521) were collected from poultry workers (n = 351), retailers/butchers (n = 57), housewives (n = 53), general public (n = 60) and were assayed through haemagglutination inhibition test using known H9N2 virus. Of the total sera processed, 238 (45.7 %) were found seropositive to H9N2. Seropositivity was more frequent in district Faisalabad (55.5%, P = 0.009), population group; poultry workers (53.8%, P = 0.001), age group; 31 – 35 years (64.0%, P = 0.001), winter season (45.6%, P = 0.0049) and with geometric mean titer of 1:40 (P = 0.001). The study revealed that H9N2 is circulating in the environment and necessary measures related to public health should be adopted.

Key Words: Avian Influenza, Poultry Workers, Seroprevalence, Retailers/Butchers, H9N2, Housewives