Key Takeaways
- Purdue University leads a $2 million USDA APHIS-funded research project with partners Entomol and 1,4Group to combat high pathogenic avian influenza using novel antiviral fogging technology.
- The project will evaluate Entomol's hydrogenated catmint oil (HCO) as a therapeutic approach to directly target and inhibit avian influenza virus in poultry environments.
- Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, Assistant Professor of Poultry Medicine at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine, serves as the project's lead investigator.
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks have resulted in the loss of more than 90 million poultry in the United States since 2022, causing billions in economic losses.
- The technology builds on proof-of-concept research from the University of South Wales in Australia, where aerosolized HCO disrupted H1N1 influenza viruses in air and on surfaces.
USDA Funding Targets Avian Influenza Crisis
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has awarded $2 million to a research consortium led by Purdue University to develop innovative solutions for combating high pathogenic avian influenza. The project brings together Purdue University, Entomol Products LLC, and 1,4Group to evaluate hydrogenated catmint oil as an antiviral fogging technology for poultry facilities.
Entomol's Hydrogenated Catmint Oil Technology
The research focuses on Entomol's proprietary hydrogenated catmint oil, a natural compound designed for deployment through fogging systems in commercial poultry and egg houses. The technology targets airborne virus transmission, which represents a major driver of avian influenza outbreaks in commercial facilities.
“Entomol's hydrogenated catmint oil technology has demonstrated the ability to disrupt influenza viruses in the air and on surfaces at very low concentrations. This USDA-supported project will allow us to rigorously evaluate its potential as a practical biosecurity tool for poultry producers,” said Mark Sloneker, CEO Entomol Products LLC.
