Evaluation of Avian Reovirus S1133 Vaccine Strain in Neonatal Broiler Chickens in Gastrointestinal Integrity and Performance in a Large-Scale Commercial Field Trial

Victor Manuel Petrone-Garcia,Inkar Castellanos-Huerta,Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco,Guillermo Tellez-Isaias,Victor M Valdes-Narvaez,Joshua Gonzalez-Soto,Mariano Delgadillo-Gonzalez,Fernando Alba-Hurtado,Raquel Lopez-Arellano

doi:10.3390/vaccines9080817

Victor Manuel Petrone-Garcia, Inkar Castellanos-Huerta + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9080817

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Abstract

Avian reovirus (ARV) is the principal cause of several diseases. The vaccination of breeders allows for the control of viral arthritis and delivery of maternal-derived antibodies to the progeny. The vaccination of broiler chickens with ARV strain S1133 is used to prevent viral arthritis. However, the post-vaccination enteric effects have not been well-characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vaccination with the S1133 strain on the weight gain and feed conversion of broiler chickens and to characterize the gastric, enteric, and pancreatic lesions that the strain could induce. A total of 672,000 chickens were divided into two groups: a group vaccinated with ARV strain S1133 (S1133ARV) and a control group (not vaccinated). Upon histological analysis, the vaccine group showed less proventricular glandular tissue and atrophy of the pancreas and duodenal villi, as well as having a lower average daily profit. The conclusion based on the results of this investigation is that neonatal vaccination with S1133ARV causes atrophy of the pancreatic acini, proventricular glands, and intestinal villi, leading to an increased diameter of the glandular lumen and atrophy of the enteric villous, as well as weight loss, in broiler chickens.

Highlights

Since avian reoviruses replicate in the gastrointestinal tract, they are associated with other pathologies such as stunting malabsorption syndrome, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, myocarditis, and respiratory diseases [3,7,8]
Significant reductions (p < 0.05) in average daily gain and production efficiency factor, as well as an increase in feed conversion rate (FCR), were observed in chickens that received the avian reovirus vaccine when compared with nonvaccinated control chickens (Table 2)
The results of the present study indicate that vaccination of neonatal broiler chickens The results of the present study indicate that vaccination of neonatal broiler chickens with the avian reovirus S1133 strain has a negative economic and productive impact since with the avian reovirus S1133 strain has a negative economic and productive impact since replication of the virus induces pathological alterations in the gastrointestinal tract

Summary

Introduction

Avian reoviruses are part of the Reoviridae family in the genus Orthoreovirus. They are a nonenveloped virus composed of two concentric icosahedral capsids with an external diameter of 80–85 nm [1]. Pathogenic viruses cause significant economic losses due to arthritis and tenosynovitis in the gastrocnemius tendons [4]. Viral arthritis mainly affects meat-type chickens but has been diagnosed in commercial layers [5]. Breeder flocks that develop viral arthritis during egg production may be characterized by lameness, increased mortality, decreased egg production, suboptimal hatchability/fertility, and vertical transmission of the virus to progeny [6]. Shedding of virulent reovirus vertically by a breeder flock may affect progeny and cause severe losses. Avian reoviruses possess group- and serotype-specific antigens, and neutralizing antibodies can be detected 7–10 days following infection

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