Detection and Molecular Characterization of Enteric Viruses in Poultry Flocks in Hebei Province, China

Abstract

Enteric viruses, as a potential pathogen, have been found to be vital causes of economic losses in poultry industry worldwide. The enteric viruses widely studied to date mainly include avian nephritis virus (ANV), avian reovirus (ARe), chicken astrovirus (CAstV), chicken parvovirus (ChPV), fowl adenovirus group I (FAdV-1), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), and avian rotavirus (ARoV). This paper aimed to identify single and multiple infections of the seven enteric viruses using the data obtained from positive 145 enteric virus samples in poultry flocks from different areas in Hebei Province, throughout the period from 2019 to 2021. Next, the correlation between bird age and clinical signs was investigated using PCR and RT-PCR techniques. Furthermore, the whole genomes of seven parvovirus strains and open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of six CAstV strains and eight ANV strains were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis and recombination analysis, to characterize the viruses and evaluate species correlation and geographic patterns. A total of 11 profiles of virus combinations were detected; 191 viruses were detected in 145 samples; 106 single infections were reported in 73.1% of the samples; and multiple infections were detected in the remaining 26.9%. For viruses, 69% of ChPV was correlated with single infection, while ANV (61.4%) and CAstV (56.1%) were correlated with multiple infections. However, IBV and ARe were not detected in any of the samples. Recombination events were reported in parvovirus, and all CAstV sequences investigated in this paper were included within genotype Bii. The eight ANV strains pertained to different subtypes with significant differences. The above results revealed for the first time the complexity of enteric viruses over the past several years, thus contributing to disease prevention and control in the future.

Molecular characterization of chicken astrovirus and pathogenicity of a novel isolate in China

“…According to previous studies, multiple enteric viral infections are detected regularly, causing substantial financial losses in poultry industry worldwide ( Kaithal et al, 2016 ; De la Torre et al, 2018 ; Chen et al, 2022 ). For example, the molecular examination of seven enteric virus of commercial chicken flocks in Brazil between 2010 and 2017 showed that 86.3% samples were positive for a single virus, and the remaining 13.7% were found in multiple infections ( De la Torre et al, 2018 ).…”

“…For example, the molecular examination of seven enteric virus of commercial chicken flocks in Brazil between 2010 and 2017 showed that 86.3% samples were positive for a single virus, and the remaining 13.7% were found in multiple infections ( De la Torre et al, 2018 ). In addition, the detection and molecular characterization of seven enteric virus in poultry flocks in China indicated that 73.1% samples were single infection, multiple infections were identified in the remaining 26.9%, as well as 69% ChPV was single infection, whereas ANV (61.4%) and CAstV (56.1%) were multiple infections ( Chen et al, 2022 ). According to the current epidemiological investigation, co-infections of CAstV with ChPV or ANV were also detected frequently, and 61.3% of CAstV was related to a single infection, whereas ChPV (22.6%) and ANV (16.1%) were co-infected with CAstV.…”

“…A new subgroup B CAstV strain JS202103 was successfully isolated from a 1 day-old chicken flock with poor viability of hatched chicks and growth problem in Jiangsu province and exhibited high pathogenicity to chicken embryos. According to previous studies, multiple enteric viral infections are detected regularly, causing substantial financial losses in poultry industry worldwide (Kaithal et al, 2016;Chen et al, 2022). For example, the molecular examination of seven enteric virus of commercial chicken flocks in Brazil between 2010 and 2017 showed that 86.3% samples were positive for a single virus, and the remaining 13.7% were found in multiple infections .…”

Development of a Double-Antibody Sandwich ELISA Based on a Monoclonal Antibody against the Viral NS1 Protein for the Detection of Chicken Parvovirus

“…The occurrence of RSS in poultry has been described as possibly being related to infection by one or more poultry enteroviruses, including poultry parvovirus, CAstV, AvRV, picornavirus, avian reovirus (ARV), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. ChPV has been detected in chickens with RSS in a few countries, such as India, Brazil, Korea, Poland, and China [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Zsak et al [ 4 ] and Nuñez et al [ 26 ] showed that SPF chicks infected with ChPV exhibit obvious clinical symptoms of RSS.…”