Immunopathological Approach for Avian Influenza Virus Detection in Brain of Laying Bird with Clinical Signs of Torticollis and Curled Toe Paralysis

Abstract

Infection with avian influenza virus (AIV) in laying birds field cases often lead to clinical signs of torticollis and curled toe paralysis. Clinical signs of torticollis and curled toe paralysis is similar to the clinical signs of Newcastle disease virus infection in poultry, making it difficult for the confirmation of diagnosis of infection with both viruses. Immunopathological immunohistochemistry streptavidin-biotin (IHC SB) is an antibody-based test to detect the presence of pathogens, especially AIV in poultry with the principle of antigen detection in tissue specimens. This research aims to detect AIV infection in laying birds field case with clinical signs of torticollis and curled toe paralysis. The samples (brains from 20 layer chicken) were taken from the cases of the disease in poultry in several commercial poultry farms. The chickens showed clinical signs of torticollis and curled toe paralysis, and oedema in the brain suspected of being infected AIV. After being necropsied, then the brains were tested IHC SB and observed with a digital microscope camera system and analyzed descriptively qualitative. The results showed that the avian influenza virus antigens was found in the parenchyma, neural and endothelial cells of brain blood vessels. Based on these results, we can conclude that Immunopathologic immunohistochemical staining of streptavidin-biotin can be applied for confirmation of the diagnosis of avian influenza virus (AIV) on the brain of commercial laying chickens showing torticollis and curled toe paralysis. Keywords : AIV; IHC SB; brain; torticollis; curled toe paralysis