Effect of Avian Reovirus Infection on Antibody Response, Footpad Thickness and Body Weight in SPF Chicken

Abstract

Avian reoviruses (ARVs) are designated to be non-pathogenic to virulent viruses and cause asymptomatic to severe infections in poultry. Particularly in broiler breeder flocks, infection results in huge economic losses to farmers due to virulent ARV strain. Hence, this study was designed to isolate the reovirus from field outbreaks and to study the pathogenicity of ARV isolate in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The isolated ARV strain was inoculated by footpad (FP) route at the dose rate of 0.1 ml (104 TCID/0.1 ml) per bird into 30 specific pathogen-free (SPF) birds (inoculated group). Thirty (30) SPF birds were used as control group (uninoculated group). The antibody response to ARV infection from six birds per group and FP thickness in all the birds was measured on Days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Body weights were recorded on Days 1 and 28 of the study. The study indicated that the orthotropic ARV virus infection showed decreased body weights in SPF birds. A significant increase in FP thickness at virus inoculation site and progressive increase in percent positive birds for ARV antibodies with mean titre was observed in ARV infected birds.