Event Title First Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases (GARAD) Conference
Session Title Unknown
Event Date & Time On Mon, 29 Jun 2015 at 16:50:00 - 17:05:00
Venue Edmond J. Safra Lecture Theatre
Abstract Title Co-infection of Mareks disease virus and chicken infectious anemia virus in laying hens in Colombia
Authors Jenny J. Chaparro-Gutierrez
Affiliations Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
Abstract Content

Both Marek's disease virus (MDV) and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) are immunosupressive pathogens that during co-infection cause worsen the production efficiency and mortality in chicken flocks. Although the Colombian poultry industry has almost double in the last decade, there is not information on the infectious status and circulating strains of both viruses in the country. It is unlikely that clinical forms of both MVD are occurring due to widespread vaccination programs with MVD serotype III; however, subclinical infections losses are probably common due to immunosupression by both MVD and CIAV. This study used PCR and qPCR with DNA extracted from blood (n=86) and feather pulp pools (n=13) to detect the presence of MDV Gallid herpesvirus 2, Gallid herpesvirus 3 and Meleagrid herpesvirus 1 and CIAV in 4 commercial layer farms. About 3 animals were randomly chosen from each farm at 1, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of age. As expected, Meleagrid herpesvirus (vaccine serotype) was detected in most blood samples 96.5% (83/86) and the 100% (13/13) feather tip samples. The average number of genome copies per 10.000 cells was 31.44. Gallid herpesvirus 2 was detected in 94.18% (81/86) blood samples throughout all ages, and in 100% (13/13) of feather tips pools. The average of number copies of Gallid herpesvirus 2 genome per 10.000 cells was 10.65. Gallid herpesvirus 3 was detected in 72% (62/86) of blood samples and in the 84.61% (11/13) of feather tips samples, with less than 1 copy of genome per 10.000 cells. CIAV virus was present in 76% (84/111) of blood samples and 13% (4/30) of the feather samples. Co-infection of both viruses in blood was 24.5%. In conclusion, both viruses are present in young layers in Colombia and could be altering the immune response to vaccination. This work is the first report of molecular identification of MVD and CIAV and co-infection in Colombia.