Enteric viruses in Brazilian turkey flocks: single and multiple virus infection frequency according to age and clinical signs of intestinal disease

• Grant number: 13/50102-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Antonio José Piantino Ferreira
• Grantee: Antonio José Piantino Ferreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pout Enteritis complex has been associated with enteritis and for reduction in growth rates in commercial turkey’s worldwide. Intestinal samples from seventy-six turkey flocks from different Brazilian states affected and not with intestinal disorders were evaluated for the presence of adenovirus groups 1 and 2 (TA V), astrovirus types 1 and 2 (TAstV-1 and TAstV-2), turkey coronavirus (TCoV), reovirus, rotavirus and avian nephritis virus (ANV) using polymerase chain reaction. The percentage of positive samples was categorized according to the geographic origin, age of the flocks and the presence of c/inical signs of intestinal disease. The percentage of samples that were positive for at least one virus was 93.4%, whereas the percentage of samples that were positive for more than one virus was 69.7%. An average of 3.20 viruses per sample was detected in turkeys in the growing phase of the production cycle (1 to 4 weeks of age). TAstV-1 and TCoV were the most frequent/y observed viruses in the growing phase turkeys and occurred simultaneously in 85% of these samples. In turkeys in the finishing phase of development (5 to 18 weeks), a lower average number of viruses was observed (2.41), and the most frequent viruses isolated in these turkeys were TAstV-1 (57.1%) and rotavirus (51.8%). Overall, every virus was detected more frequent/y in growing phase turkeys than in finishing phase turkeys with the exception of TAV. Samples from flocks exhibiting clinical signs of intestinal disease showed a higher rate of positivity and TAstV-1 TAstV-2 and TCoV were the most frequently occurring viruses in this cohort. (AU)