Abstract of research

THE ROLE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS (SUBTYPES H9 AND H5) AND AVIAN INFECTIOUS BRONCHITIS VIRUS IN AN OUTBREAK AFFECTING COMMERCIAL POULTRY FLOCKS IN EGYPT DURING 2012

Abo-Elkhair, M.1, Bazid, A.I.1, Abd El-Razak, A.G.2, Zidan, S.A.3, Sultan, H.2

Abstract

Avian influenza virus (AIV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have been recognized as ones of the most important viral pathogens in poultry. Recently, commercial poultry flocks in Egypt have suffered massive mortalities associated mainly with respiratory manifestations. Subsequently, the involvement of AIV and IBV has been suspected. In this study, tracheal samples from 18 affected chicken flocks during the period of January to March 2012 were tested for AIV H5, H9 and IBV by using one-step reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The positive RT-PCR results were further confirmed by inoculation of filtered tissue homogenates in specific pathogens free (SPF) eggs followed by performing haemagglutination assay on the allantoic fluid. The RT- PCR results showed that 6 flocks were positive for AI subtype H9, two flocks were positive for AI subtype H5, two flocks were positive for IBV, two flocks were positive for both AI subtype H9 and IBV, and 6 flocks were negative for all of these viruses. Our data showed that these viruses could have an important role in mortalities that have occurred in the poultry flocks during the winter of 2012. Further studies are necessary to assess circulating strains and the impact of co-infections of these viruses and other pathogens.