Resumo em Inglês:

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg) infection of wild native Brazilian psittacines (Psittaciformes) which died of any cause during sorting, rehabilitation, or conservation, was investigated by PCR. Two previously described PCR methodologies using Mg specific primers were employed for the analyses of 140 swab samples (cloaca, trachea, or palatine cleft). Average positive Mg detection in cloacal swabs was 51.9%, with 80.0% (n=5) of Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna), 60.0% (n=3) Dusky Parrots (Pionus fuscus), 52.5% (n=59) Amazon Parrots (Amazona aestiva), 50.0% (n=2) Orange-winged Parrots (Amazona amazonica), 50.0% (n=2) Jandaya Parakeetsor Jandaya Conures (Aratinga jandaya), 0% (n=2) Golden Conures or Golden Parakeets (Guarouba guarouba), and 0% (n=2) Hyacinth Macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Palatine cleft swab sampling was more sensitive to detect Mg, with 85.4% (n=17) detection rate, as compared to 67.4% (n=46) obtained with tracheal samples, and 53.5% (n=77) with cloacal swabs. The surprisingly high Mg incidence in psittacines kept in conservation or triage environments is possibly due to the proximity or cohabitation with several bird species during confinement and housing psittacines of different origins together. The implementation of biosecurity measures and species-specific facilities is recommended.

Resumo em Inglês:

In the United States, more than 90% of chicken meat is produced in the southeastern states, and most egg production resides in the eastern half of the country and Texas. Several molecular epidemiological studies have indicated that most infectious bronchitis (IB) virus (IBV) isolates obtained from outbreaks of respiratory disease in these regions correspond to Ark-type IBV in spite of extensive vaccination programs which include IBV ArkDPI-derived vaccines. Accumulating evidence suggests that Ark-type strains may have a distinct capacity to circumvent preventive measures. Two strategies by which Ark-type IBV strains may maintain a high prevalence in commercial chickens are: (1) Unusually high genetic and phenotypic variability, and (2) synergism with concurrent viral immunodeficiency. Support for the first strategy includes epidemiological findings showing continued isolations of Ark-like viruses from respiratory disease affecting flocks vaccinated with serotype-specific homologous (ArkDPI-derived) vaccines, experimental data demonstrating selection of new predominant phenotypes occurring rapidly after a single passage in the host, and recent findings indicating changes of the predominant IBV population occurring within the host during the invasion process. The second strategy is supported by epidemiological data indicating increased isolations of Ark-type IBV showing minor geno-/phenotypic variation occurring in chickens simultaneously affected by immunosuppressive viruses. In addition, experimental results have shown that viral immunodeficiency leads to more severe and prolonged IB signs and lesions, delayed and reduced specific antibody responses, and increased and persistent IBV shedding. Finally, accumulating evidence confirms high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in commercial ArkDPI-derived vaccines. The rapid selection of new predominant phenotypes occurring in these vaccines may be facilitating the emergence of Ark-like strains. Thus, improvement of Ark-type vaccines and prevention of viral immunodeficiency's seem to be essential for an effective control of the disease.

Resumo em Inglês:

Mutation and recombination processes are involved in the genetic and phenotypic variations of RNA viruses, leading to the emergence of new variant strains, and give rise to virus population diversity to be modeled by the host, particularly by the immune system, as occurred with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chickens. The consequence is a continuous emergence of new IBV variants with regard to pathotypes, serotypes, and protectotypes. Nucleotide sequencing and subsequent genetic analysis of the S1 and N protein gene sequences provide a fast and accurate method to classify and predict IBV genotype, and a powerful instrument to monitor phylogenetic and epidemiological evolution of IBV variants. Despite the use of vaccination programmes, infectious bronchitis has become a serious problem in Brazil. Thus, a significant number of IBV field variants have been identified circulating in the Brazilian commercial poultries between 2000 to 2006 and more recently in Argentina. These viruses seem to be indigenous, because they demonstrated a low genetic relatedness with the majority of the reference strains from North America, Europe and Asia, but were moderately to highly related one to another. In summary, indigenous field IBV variants were evolving and circulating in the field in Brazil and Argentina, and should be considered as initial candidates for protection against current IBV infectious in chickens. However, in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to determine the pathogenicity and immunogenecity of these new isolates, before defining a new vaccine strain.

Resumo em Inglês:

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates have been widely characterized by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. In present study, these techniques were applied to three viral genomic regions comprising the complete and/or a partial S1 segment, S2 and nucleocapsid genes. DNA sequences from viral isolates obtained from 1972 to 1989 and from 2006 to 2008 were compared. High similarity (>90%) was observed among some of the genomic segments, including S1 hypervariable region, which could suggest a common origin or ancestry. DNA sequences from S2 and N protein genes obtained from different infected tissues of the same flock were analyzed, and a clear segregation between respiratory and intestinal tract was observed. Therefore, these data suggest co-circulation of more than one viral strain in the same flock. 57.1% of DNA sequences from the S1 complete segment samples, 53.3% from the S2 fragment and 62.5% from the partial N gene were found to be different from analyzed sequences from reference strains leading to the conclusion that parte of viral isolates included in this study may be considered region specific. Considering the simultaneous analysis of the three genes, a large IBV genetic profile was observed in both old and recent isolates groups. However, most prominent diversity between viral isolates was obtained in the period from 1972 and 1989, showing the presence of a large number of variants in the state of Minas Gerais before the official approval of vaccination (1980).

Resumo em Inglês:

Infectious bronchitis (IB) casues multi-systemic infection in chickens with signs similar caused by other poultry pathogens and thus a high diagnostic accuracy can only be achieved by s series of laboratory assays. This article reviews in a brief way the traditional virus assays such as embryo innoculation, tracheal rings and virus neutralization assays for the direct detection of Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and methods based on gene molecular biology and some assays for the detection of anti-IBV antibodies, including ELISA. A critical view on each technique is also provived by the author.

Resumo em Inglês:

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) of chickens is currently one of the main diseases associated with respiratory syndrome in domestic poultry, as well as with losses related to egg production. The etiological agent is a coronavirus, which presents structural differences in the field, mainly in the S1 spike protein. The immune response against this virus is complicated by the few similarities among serotypes. Environmental and management factors, as well as the high mutation rate of the virus, render it difficult to control the disease and compromise the efficacy of the available vaccines. Bird immune system capacity to respond to challenges depend on the integrity of the mucosae, as an innate compartment, and on the generation of humoral and cell-mediated adaptive responses, and may affect the health status of breeding stocks in the medium run. Vaccination of day-old chicks in the hatchery on aims at eliciting immune responses, particularly cell-mediated responses that are essential when birds are first challenged. Humoral response (IgY and IgA) are also important for virus clearance in subsequent challenges. The presence of antibodies against the S1 spike protein in 3- to 4-week-old birds is important both in broilers and for immunological memory in layers and breeders.

Resumo em Inglês:

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly aggressive disease for poultry in terms of symptoms and economic losses, and the control of this disease is difficult if flocks are not protected against type-specific challenges by the Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). This article summarizes data presented by the author at the Workshop on Infectious Bronchitis 2009 on IB and IBV, including future developments on the field.

Resumo em Inglês:

The emergence and nature of different strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in Europe are described. Infectious bronchitis (IB) is the most important endemic viral respiratory disease where highly pathogenic Newcastle disease and avian influenza are not present. IB was first described in the UK in 1948 and identified as Massachusetts type. In the 1970s and 80s new serotypes were reported in Holland and elsewhere and new vaccines were developed. The 1990s saw the emergence of the major variant commonly called 793B, again needing a new vaccine. Two novel types have been recognised since 2000, Italy 02 and QX. Italy 02 appears to be well controlled by the use of two different live vaccines (H120 and the 793B-related 4/91) while for QX, associated with nephritis in young birds and silent layers, new vaccines are in development. The use of two vaccines as above is a widely used protocol and is capable of protecting against a wide range of different types. Alternative approaches to IB vaccination are discussed. The importance of constant surveillance for prevalent and novel IBV types is emphasised and the value of experimental infections in chickens to determine the pathogenesis and pathology of new types in addition to testing efficacy of vaccines is outlined.

Resumo em Inglês:

The aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of total (TC) or partial (PC) collection excreta methods to determine metabolizable energy in poultry feeds. A number of 180 12- to 21-day-old broilers were distributed into two treatments of six replicates of 10 birds each. A reference-diet was formulated to supply broiler requirements, and the test-diets consisted of 60% of reference diets and 40% of corn or soybean meal. Celite was added at 1% to the diets as a marker. Excreta and diet samples were analyzed for dry matter, energy, nitrogen, and acid-insoluble ash (AIA). AME of corn determined by partial collection (PC) was higher (3544 kcal/kg) as compared to total collection (TC) (3133 kcal/kg). However, no difference were observed for soybean meal (1797 vs. 1821 kcal/kg) between both methods. Marker recovery rates in the excreta were 101, 111, and 96% for the basal-diet, and the test-diets with corn or soybean meal, respectively. This result indicates the importance of marker recovery rate in the excreta to evaluate feed AME and digestibility.