Author/Authors :
Shokri, Shima Department of Clinical Sciences - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran , Karimi, Vahid Department of Clinical Sciences - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran , Ghalyanchi Langeroudi, Arash Department of Microbiology and Immunology - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran , Vasfi Marandi, Mehdi Department of Clinical Sciences - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran , Hashamzadeh, Masoud Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute - Agricultural Research and Extension Organization, Tehran , Zabihipetroudi, Taha Department of Clinical Sciences - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Tehran, Tehran , Najafi, Hamideh Department of Pathobiology - School of Veterinary Medicine - Shiraz University, Shiraz , Tehrani, Farshad Department of Health and Management of Poultry Diseases - Iranian Veterinary Organization, Tehra
Abstract :
Background and Objectives: Different epidemiological studies have found that backyard chickens are a reservoir for poultry
diseases. Most backyard chicken flocks have a poor level of biosecurity, which increases the risk of spread of diseases. In
recent years, the number of backyard chickens has been on the rise in Iran. However, the health status of backyard flocks is
still poorly documented. Thus, this study aimed at examining the seroprevalence of antibodies against infectious bronchitis
virus (IBV) and molecular surveillance and genotyping of IBV among backyard chickens (without vaccination history) in
Mazandaran province, North of Iran, 2014.
Materials and Methods: A total of 460 blood samples of unvaccinated backyard chickens in the mentioned area were tested
for antibodies against IBV using commercial ELISA. Also, cecal tonsils were collected from 75 chickens in the same area.
Real time RT-PCR (for detection) and RT-PCR and sequencing spike gene were performed.
Results: The seropositivity rate was 54.5%. In addition, we detected 793/B, Variant 2, and QX in the backyard flocks and
performed phylogenetic studies on them. The phylogenetic study revealed that the detected genotypes had high homology
with IBV strains that were infected broilers, pullets, and layers in Iran.
Conclusion: There is a need for continuous monitoring of IBV among avian species to complete the epidemiological map
and work on the pathogenesis of Iranian IBV strains in Iranian backyard chickens.
Keywords :
Avian infectious bronchitis , Backyard chicken , Phylogenetic , Spike , Iran
