ARS | Publication request: Enteric viruses of chickens and turkeys

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 28, 2011
Publication Date: November 3, 2011
Citation: Day, J.M. 2011. Enteric viruses of chickens and turkeys. Meeting Abstract. "Enteric viruses of chickens and turkeys". 2011 Australian Veterinary Poultry Association Meeting. Melbourne, Australia. p.26.

Technical Abstract: Although enteric disease in commercial poultry operations is common, and often unofficially reported and discussed by field veterinarians as “non-specific enteric disease”, three recognized enteric syndromes do exist in poultry: poult enteritis complex (PEC) and poult enteritis mortality syndrome (PEMS) in young turkeys, and runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) in broiler chickens. Key investigations on enteric disease in turkeys and chickens have examined the viral etiology of the diseases noted in the field, and have focused on turkey coronavirus (TCoV), turkey and chicken astrovirus, avian orthoreovirus, avian rotavirus, torovirus, parvovirus, and several unknown “small round viruses”. Recent enteric virus surveys have revealed the presence of multiple viruses in turkeys and chickens in the United States, often in samples obtained from the same flock or bird, and the absence of certain viruses which have historically caused well-characterized enteric disease, such as turkey coronavirus. The situation is complicated by the fact that many suspect viruses are also often detected in and isolated from healthy flocks exhibiting no signs of enteric disease. The present analysis will provide background information on the poultry enteric syndromes and details of the ongoing work in our laboratory investigating and characterizing poultry enteric viruses at the molecular level and based upon pathogenesis.