Adenoviruses and Their Diversity in Poultry

An investigation into the aetiology of fowl adenovirus strains and their distribution worldwide in populations of poultry flocks industry has been conducted. Pathogenic role of the viruses is not always clear. They can cause latent infection or several diseases and are the reason of economic losses in poultry flock industry. Ubiquity of adenovirus strains was commonly described, and stand-alone pathogenicity for a long time has been disputed. A globally emerging trend of adenoviruses and adenovirus-associated diseases has been increasing from year to year in all over the world. Mainly, type FAdV-4 is responsible for hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome (HP), type FAdV-1 for gizzard erosion and ulceration (GEU), and types FAdV-2, 8a, 8b, and 11 seem to be responsible for inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). Defining the spreading of the avian adenovirus strains in different types of fowl profile production, recognising their property and determining their types and molecular characterisation are very important from the epidemiological point of view and are considered as excellent basis for vaccine development and gene therapy implementation. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of FAdVs, including their epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic, detection, and molecular characterisation. This comprehensive review is needed to better understand the latest progress in study of the viruses and prospects regarding disease control and implementation of gene therapy

Wirus Zachodniego Nilu w Polsce — realne zagrożenie w świetle doniesień prezentowanych na konferencji „Aktualne problemy dotyczące czynników zakaźnych przenoszonych przez krew” (10 marca 2017 r., Warszawa)

West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated in Europe in 1996 as the cause of meningitis and meningo-encephalitis as well as mass bird death. Since then it exists in Europe in endemic regions causing outbreaks of the disease. WNV belongs to Flaviviridae family, genus Flavivirus and is a neurotropic arbovirus that can be transmitted from birds to human by mosquitoes as the main virus vector. In 80% of cases the infection is mild with nonspecific symptoms flu-like symptoms. At highest risk of infection are elderly people (above 50) and immunodeficient patients;meningitis evolves in 1 of 150 infected cases. West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Additional routes of human infection have also been reported such as: blood transfusions, organ transplants, exposure in a laboratory setting (during necropsy of infected birds), from mother to baby during pregnancy.Treatment is only symptomatic. The risk of WNV infection can be reduced by using mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito bites.Wirus Zachodniego Nilu (WNV) po raz pierwszy wykryto w Europie w 1996 roku. Powodował epidemie zapalenia mózgu i opon mózgowych oraz masowe padnięcia ptactwa. Od tamtej pory występuje na terenie Europy endemicznie, tworząc ogniska. Wirus WNV przenosi się z ptaków na ludzi przez komary będące jego głównym wektorem. Infekcja powodowana jest przez wirus neurotropowy należący do rodziny Flaviviridae i rodzaju Flavivirus. W 80% przypadków choroba ma przebieg łagodny, manifestując się jedynie niespecyficznymi objawami grypopodobnymi. W grupie najwyższego ryzyka znajdują się pacjenci o zmniejszonej wydolności układu immunologicznego oraz po 50. roku życia, u których może wystąpić zapalenie mózgu, rozwijające się u jednej na 150 zakażonych osób. Zakażenie może być bezpośrednie (człowiek–człowiek) przez przetoczenie krwi, transplantację organów, zakażenia wewnątrzmaciczne płodu przez chorą matkę lub przez pracowników laboratoriów zakażonych podczas wykonywania sekcji zakażonych ptaków. Leczenie jest wyłącznie objawowe. Przed tą groźną infekcją najlepiej zabezpieczyć się, stosując środki ochronne przeciwko komarom

Marek’s Disease Is a Threat for Large Scale Poultry Production

Marek’s disease (MD) is one of the widespread infectious diseases that causes huge losses in large-scale poultry production. This is due to weight loss, poorer feed conversion and an increased number of deaths among infected birds. The etiological agent is a Marek’s disease virus (MDV) belonging to the Herpesviridae family. It is mainly described in poultry, however, it is also found in geese. There are three MDV serotypes, and four patotypes within serotype 1. Currently, Marek’s disease is very rare in its classical form. There are non-specific clinical symptoms, and anatomopathological changes are mainly observed in the liver, spleen and the reproductive system. This may be due to the evolution in the pathogenicity of MDV field strains over the past several decades. The presence of MDV and number of molecular diagnostic tests based on the detection of viral nucleic acids and viral proteins is already found in birds that have several weeks old. Laboratory diagnostics are based mainly on molecular biology (mainly PCR) methods. The only relatively effective method instead of biosecurity measures, of preventing MD is prophylactic vaccination of 1-day-old chickens or in ovo vaccination. Nevertheless, Marek’s disease is still recorded in poultry flocks around the world, with estimated losses reaching several million dollars

Deep analysis of Loop L1 HVRs1-4 region of the hexon gene of adenovirus field strains isolated in Poland.

BACKGROUND:To date, studies on loop L1 HVRs1-4 region of the hexon gene in fowl adenovirus genome (FAdVs) lack comprehensive molecular data. In this study detailed prospectively obtained sequences from field adenovirus strains, NVRI, Poland have been analyzed. METHODS:Overall hundred and thirty seven adenovirus strains were collected, evaluated, and examined of hyper variable loop L1 region HVRs1-4 of the hexon gene for the presence of similarity, mutations, tertiary structure, and spinal conformation. RESULTS:Sequences were characterized, and divided for five species and seven types, FAdV-A-E/FAdV-1/2/4/5/7/8a/8b/11. The presence of predicted tertiary structure depending on type/species were determined. Analysis of specific selected sequences: GQMTN 1/A, 7/E, and 8b/E, GQMTT 2/11/D, GQLSN 4/C, GQMTH 5/B, and GQMSN 8a/E in examined HVRs1-4 Loop L1 region of hexon gene compared to tertiary structure indicated that this visibly conservative region represents the antigenic binging activity. CONCLUSION:This is the first molecular study on tertiary structure on HVRs1-4 region in adenovirus genome conducted in Poland. Analysis indicated specific sequence in Loop L1 HVR1-4 region which is strictly responsible for antibodies binding. This information could assist during the process connected with specific preventive strategies based on their molecular genome investigation and new facilitate studies. This study will help to better understand the mechanisms of pathogenicity of adenovirus strains provide a guide for disease control in birds

Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis Caused by Chicken Proventricular Necrosis Virus Displaying Serological Cross-Reactivity with IBDV

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) of chickens is manifested in decreased body weight gains, poor feed conversion and weight diversity. Although TVP etiology has not been defined, a Birnaviridae family member, named chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV) is considered as a potential factor of a disease. This study was undertaken in order to reproduce TVP and to evaluate its etiology. Broiler chickens of the TVP-infected group were inoculated with TVP positive proventriculi homogenate on the 24th day of life. Samples were collected, on infection day and 14 days post-infection (dpi). The 14 dpi anatomo- and histopathological evaluation, revealed that we have succeeded to reproduce TVP. TVP-infected birds gained 30.38% less body weight. In the TVP-infected group a seroconversion against picornaviruses, fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) and infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDV) was recorded with an ELISA test. Using RT-PCR and PCR, CPNV was detected in proventriculi and FAdV in spleens and livers of infected birds, 14 dpi. Our study supports that CPNV is involved in the development of TVP. We did not record the presence of IBDV in TVP or control birds, despite our recording of a seroconversion against IBDV in TVP infected birds. CPNV and IBDV belong to the same family, which allows us to assume serological cross-reactivity between them. The role of FAdV needs further evaluation

Elaboration of triplex PCR for detection of selected viral infections in waterfowl

Viral infections are the greatest threat to waterfowl and cause significant economic losses. Diagnosis and differentiation of three goose viruses is difficult in the field and often requires laboratory confirmation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop a triplex PCR and optimise its parameters for simultaneous detection of DNA of goose parvovirus (GPV), goose polyomavirus (GHPV), and goose circovirus (GoCV)

Isolation and molecular characterization of Fowl adenovirus strains in Black grouse: First reported case in Poland.

This article describes the isolation, molecular characterization, and genotyping of two fowl adenovirus (FAdVs) strains with GenBank Accession numbers (MT478054, JSN-G033-18-L and MT478055, JSN-G033-18-B) obtained from the internal organs of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix). This study also reveals the first confirmation of fowl adenovirus in Poland, supporting one of the hypotheses about the probability of fowl adenovirus interspecies transmission. The adenovirus strain sequences were investigated via phylogenetic analysis and were found to have an overall mean pairwise distance of 2.189. The heterogeneity, Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU), codon composition, and nucleotide frequencies were examined. Statistical analyses and Tajima's test for the examined sequences were carried out. The Maximum Likelihood for the examined sequences substitutions was performed. The results of the sequence analysis identified MT478054, JSN-G033-18-L and MT478055, JSN-G033-18-B as strains of fowl adenovirus 2/11/D, with the Fowl adenovirus D complete sequence showing a 93% match. Wild birds may act as a natural reservoir for FAdVs and likely play an important role in the spreading of these viruses in the environment. The findings reported here suggest horizontal transmission within and between avian species

Occurrence of reovirus (ARV) infections in poultry flocks in Poland in 2010–2017

Introduction: Avian reovirus (ARV) infections in poultry populations are reported worldwide. The reovirus belongs to the genus Orthoreovirus, family Reoviridae. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of ARV infections in the poultry population based on diagnostic tests performed in 2010–2017

Avian poxvirus infection in Polish great tits (Parus major)

Introduction: Avian poxvirus infections are widespread in the domestic poultry population but are also reported in wild birds. In poultry, these infections cause significant economic losses, while wild birds may be a reservoir for poxvirus which affects breeding poultry. However, wild birds may also exhibit characteristic anatomopathological changes. This study concerns the infection of wild-living great tits (Parus major) with the avian poxvirus in Poland