Title
Outbreaks of Avipoxvirus Clade E in Vaccinated Broiler Breeders with Exacerbated Beak Injuries and Sex Differences in Severity
Date Issued
01 April 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Astolfi-Ferreira C.S.
Pereira P.C.
Assayag M.S.
De la Torre D.
de Sá L.R.M.
de Almeida S.R.Y.
Rici R.E.G.
Piantino Ferreira A.J.
University of São Paulo
Duke University Road
Publisher(s)
MDPI
Abstract
Avipoxvirus affects chickens and wild birds, and it is characterized by lesions on the nonfeathered parts of the body (the cutaneous form), or necrotic lesions in the upper respiratory tract (the diphtheritic form). In poultry farming, avian pox is usually controlled by live attenuated vaccines. However, there have been many reports of outbreaks, even in flocks of vaccinated birds. In the present study, different outbreaks of the emerging clade E avipoxvirus were detected in commercial breeder flocks of chickens vaccinated against fowlpox virus in Southeast Brazil. Clinical manifestations of these outbreaks included a marked prevalence of moderate to severe progressive lesions in the beaks of affected birds, especially in roosters with increased mortality (up to 8.48%). Also, a reduced hatchability (up to 20.77% fewer hatching eggs) was observed in these flocks. Analysis of clinical samples through light and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of Bollinger bodies and poxvirus particles in epithelial cells and affecting chondrocytes. PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of major core protein (P4b) and DNA polymerase (pol) genes identified this virus as clade E avipoxvirus. We also developed qPCR assays for open reading frames (ORFs) 49, 114, and 159 to detect and quantify this emergent virus. These results show the arrival and initial spread of this pathogen in the poultry industry, which was associated with harmful outbreaks and exacerbated clinical manifestations in vaccinated commercial breeder flocks. This study also highlights the relevance of permanent vigilance and the need to improve sanitary and vaccination programs.
Volume
14
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Epidemiología Enfermedades infecciosas
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85128462446
PubMed ID
Source
Viruses
Sponsor(s)
This study was financed in part by the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior–Brasil)–Finance Code 001. A.J.P.F. is a recipient of CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico) fellowship 1D.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus