Journal Article

Molecular epidemiology of respiratory viruses in commercial chicken flocks in Pakistan from 2014 through to 2016

Teillaud, Angélique, Guerin, Jean-Luc, Ducatez, Mariette F., Umar, Sajid, Aslam, Hassan Bin

2019

Overview

Background Viral diseases are a matter of great concern for poultry farmers in Pakistan. Multiple common viral respiratory diseases (CVRDs) cause huge economic losses in the poultry industry. The prevalence of CVRDs in many countries, including Pakistan, is not clearly understood. Results Incidences of 5 chicken respiratory viruses: avian influenza virus (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV/AAVV-1), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were assessed on commercial Pakistani farms with respiratory problems from 2014 through to 2016. While AIV and AAVV-1 were frequently detected (16 to 17% of farms), IBV and aMPV were rarely detected (in 3 to 5% of farms) and ILTV was not detected. We characterized H9 AIV of the G1 lineage, genotype VII AAVV-1, GI-13 IBV, and type B aMPV strains with very little genetic variability in the 2-year study period. Co-infections with AIV and AAVV-1 were common and wild type AAVV-1 was detected despite the use of vaccines. Control measures to limit the virus burden in chicken flocks are discussed. Conclusions Our data shows that AIV (H9), AAVV-1, IBV and aMPV are prevalent in commercial poultry in Pakistan. Further studies are necessary to assess circulating strains, economic losses caused by infections and coinfections of these pathogens, and the costs and benefits of countermeasures. Furthermore, veterinarians and farmers should be informed of the pathogens circulating in the field and hence advised on the use of vaccines.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,BMC
• Subject: Animals / Avian influenza / Avian influenza virus / Avian influenza viruses / Avian metapneumovirus / Avian orthoavulavirus 1 / Bronchitis / Chicken / Chicken respiratory viruses / chickens / Chickens - genetics / control methods / Epidemiology / Farmers / Farms / flocks / Gallid alphaherpesvirus 1 / Genetic research / genetic variation / genotype / Herpesvirus 1, Gallid / History, 21st Century / Human adenoviruses / Incidence / Infectious bronchitis virus / Influenza / Influenza A virus / Influenza viruses / Life Sciences / Lung diseases / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Metapneumovirus / mixed infection / Molecular Epidemiology / Newcastle disease / Pakistan / Pakistan - epidemiology / Pathogenic microorganisms / pathogens / Poultry Diseases - epidemiology / Poultry Diseases - history / Poultry Diseases - virology / Poultry industry / Prevalence / Research Article / Respiratory tract diseases / Retirement benefits / Risk factors / Transgenics / vaccines / veterinarians / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / viral load / Virology / Virus diseases / Virus Diseases - epidemiology / Virus Diseases - history / Virus Diseases - veterinary / viruses / Zoology