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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #220104
Title: Partial genome sequence analysis of parvoviruses associated with enteric disease of poultry.

Author
item Zsak, Laszlo
item Strother, Keith
item KISARY, JANOS - HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIE

Submitted to: Avian Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Zsak, L., Strother, K.O., Kisary, J. 2008. Partial genome sequence analysis of parvoviruses associated with enteric disease of poultry. Avian Pathology. 37:435-441.

Interpretive Summary: Viral enteric disease is a significant economic problem in the poultry industry worldwide. Viruses from numerous families have been identified in the intestinal tracts of poultry with enteric disease, most frequently astroviruses, coronaviruses, reoviruses and rotaviruses. Currently, the role of these viruses in the etiology of enteric disease of poultry is not completely understood. In this study, we detected parvovirus sequences in enteric samples of chickens and turkeys affected by RSS and PEMS, respectively, using a random hexamer PCR based approach. Our genome sequence analysis indicates that these parvoviruses are closely related to each other and they represent an independent member of the Parvoviridae family. Our PCR studies indicate that these parvoviruses are present in a large number of poultry flocks affected by enteric diseases. These data strongly suggest that the chicken and turkey parvoviruses are pathogenic in their host and they play a significant role in the etiology of enteric diseases of poultry.

Technical Abstract: Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome (PEMS) of turkeys and Runting-Stunting Syndrome (RSS) of chickens are significant viral enteric diseases of poultry. Although numerous different viruses have been isolated from the intestinal contents of affected poultry flocks, including avian reoviruses, rotaviruses, astroviruses and coronaviruses, their function in inducing PEMS and RSS is presently not completely understood. Here, we report the application of a molecular screening method that was designed to detect novel viruses from intestinal samples of chickens and turkeys exhibiting characteristic signs of enteric diseases. The technique is based on random amplification of particle associated nucleic acids from purified clinical samples. Using this method we successfully identified parvovirus DNA sequences in intestinal homogenates of affected birds. To our knowledge, this is the first time to describe genomic sequences of chicken and turkey parvoviruses. Sequence analysis of the left end region of the genome, including the complete nonstructural gene, demonstrated that the chicken and turkey parvoviruses are highly related to each other and represent independent members of the Parvovirus family. Data suggest a significant role of these parvoviruses in the etiology of PEMS and RSS.