Isolation and Detection of Avian Reovirus from Tenosynovitis and Malabsorption Affected Broiler Chickens with Involvement of Vertical Transmission
Isolation and Detection of Avian Reovirus from Tenosynovitis and Malabsorption Affected Broiler Chickens with Involvement of Vertical Transmission
Shimaa M. Mansour, Reham M. ElBakrey, Ahmed Orabi, Haytham Ali, Amal A. Eid
ABSTRACT
Background: Avian Reovirus (ARV) is involved in many pathologic syndromes of chicken including
the both major syndromes, Viral Arthritis (VA) and Runting Stunting Syndrome (RSS), which have
great negative impacts on the poultry industry. Although ARV was reported in Egypt since 1984 but
only few studies figured out the implication of ARV only in the uneven growth of some Egyptian
chicken flocks.
Aim: Clinical and molecular investigation of avian reovirus infection in broiler chickens with
availability of Vertical Transmission
Methods: Herein, 18 chickens derived from 4 broiler flocks within Sharkia Province, Egypt suffering
from different degrees of lameness and/or stunting were clinically and molecularly examined for the
presence of ARV.
Results: By clinical examination, one third (6/18) of examined chickens showed bilateral arthritis with
tendons included microscopic changes consistent with the typical ARV infection. Additionally, eight
chickens (8/18) showed stunting and another one chicken (1/18) showed poor feathering while the last
three chickens (3/18) appeared diarrheic. All clinically affected chickens showed varied postmortem
lesions that almost associated with ARV infections. Further molecular detection of ARV within the 18
clinically affected samples (n=18) by RT-PCR using a specific primer set targeting a conserved
sequence within ARV- sigma C protein revealed 7/18 positive samples. All positive samples (7/18)
were successfully isolated on specific pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs (SPF-ECE). Additional
RT-PCR testing and re-isolation of ARV from ECEs of a breeder flock of a history of uneven growth
and/or arthritis revealed ARV infection in six (6/60) examined ECEs.
Conclusion: These results indicated the incrimination of ARV infection in some arthritis infections
beside the low food conversion rate of chickens within Sharkia Province, Egypt. Moreover, the
obtained data highlight the importance of vertical transmission in the field spread of ARV infections.
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July 2018
Vol. 4, Pages 1-71
