J Vet Sci.  2013 Jun;14(2):231-233. 10.4142/jvs.2013.14.2.231.

An unusual case of concomitant infection with chicken astrovirus and group A avian rotavirus in broilers with a history of severe clinical signs

• Koo BS
• Lee HR
• Jeon EO
• Jang HS
• Han MS
• Mo IP

• KMID: 1705527
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2013.14.2.231

Abstract

A molecular study of intestinal samples from 21 broiler flocks with a history of enteritis revealed that 23.8% and 14.3% were positive for chicken astrovirus (CAstV) and avian rotavirus (ARV), respectively. CAstV and group A ARV were simultaneously detected in only one broiler flock. Birds in this group developed the significant intestinal lesions characterized by frothy contents, paleness, and thin intestinal walls. In this report we present an unusual case of runting stunting syndrome (RSS) with a history of high mortality and growth retardation in broiler chickens. We also make the first identification of CAstV and group A ARV in broiler chickens in Korea.

Keyword

avian rotavirus; broiler; chicken astrovirus; runting stunting syndrome

MeSH Terms

Animals
Astroviridae Infections/diagnosis/epidemiology/*veterinary/virology
Avastrovirus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism
*Chickens/growth & development
Enteritis/diagnosis/pathology/veterinary/virology
Intestines/pathology/virology
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
Poultry Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Rotavirus/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification/metabolism
Rotavirus Infections/diagnosis/epidemiology/*veterinary/virology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Gross lesions in the intestines of broiler chickens. (A) Concomitant infection with chicken astrovirus (CAstV) and group A avian rotavirus (ARV) or (B) infection with CAstV alone. (A) Severe gross lesions as well as frothy, yellowish contents; paleness, and thin walls were found throughout the intestines of the bird concomitantly infected with CAstV and ARV. (B) In contrast, only mild gross lesions were visible in the intestines from the chicken infected with CAstV alone. However, the cecum contained frothy contents.

• 

  Fig. 2 Phylogenetic analysis based on the (A) CAstV ORF1b and (B) ARV VP6 nucleotide sequences from CAstV (CBNU102655a) and ARV (CBNU102655b) detected in the current study and reference strains. The MEGA program (version 5.01) was used to construct the tree using the neighbor-joining method with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. Accession numbers are shown in parentheses. TAstV: turkey astrovirus, ANV: avian nephritis virus.

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