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. 2013 Jan 30:10:38.
doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-10-38.

The pathogenicity of avian metapneumovirus subtype C wild bird isolates in domestic turkeys

Ra Mi Cha  1 , Qingzhong Yu, Laszlo Zsak
Affiliations

The pathogenicity of avian metapneumovirus subtype C wild bird isolates in domestic turkeys

Ra Mi Cha et al. Virol J. .

Abstract

Background: Avian metapneumovirus subtype C (aMPV/C) causes severe upper respiratory disease in turkeys. Previous report revealed the presence of aMPV/C in wild birds in the southeast regions of the U.S.

Methods: In this study, aMPV/C positive oral swabs from American coots (AC) and Canada geese (CG) were passaged three times in the respiratory tract of specific pathogen free (SPF) turkeys and used as aMPV/C P3 virus isolates in subsequent studies.

Results: Wild bird P3 isolates showed similar growth characteristics when compared to virulent aMPV/C in chicken embryo fibroblast ( CEF) cell cultures and their glycoprotein G gene sequence was closely related to the G gene of aMPV/C Colorado reference virus. Three-day-old commercial or SPF turkeys were inoculated oculonasally with wild bird aMPV/C P3 isolates. At 5 and 7 days post-inoculation (DPI), severe clinical signs were observed in both of the AC and CG virus-exposed groups. Viral RNA was detected in tracheal swabs by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, immunohistochemistry showed virus replication in the nasal turbinate and trachea. All virus-exposed turkeys developed positive antibody response by 14 DPI.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that aMPV/C wild bird isolates induced typical aMPV/C disease in the domestic turkeys.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of aMPV/C G gene from pooled American coot (AC) and Canada goose (CG) samples before (P0)and after three serial turkey passages (P3). Nucleotide position is indicated by numbers according to GenBank submission of aMPV/C-US strain [GenBank ID: AY579780.1]. Deletions within the G gene are represented by dotted lines and mapped by nucleotide numbers. Multiple nucleotide positions indicate more than one deletion form within the same region of the aMPV/C-AC-P0 and aMPV/C-CG-P3 viruses.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Detection of aMPV/C infected cells in the mucosal layers of nasal turbinate from virus exposed SPF turkeys at 5 DPI by IHC staining. (a) Control untreated turkeys; (b) aMPV/C-AC-P3 virus infected turkeys; (c) aMPV/C-CG-P3 virus infected turkeys.
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