Molecular Characterization and Pathogenicity of Chicken Parvovirus (ChPV) in Specific Pathogen-Free Chicks Infected Experimentally.

Silvana H Santander-Parra,David I De La Torre,Lilian R M De Sá,Antonio J Piantino Ferreira,Claudete S Astolfi-Ferreira,Luis Fabian N Nuñez,Marcos R Buim

doi:10.3390/pathogens9080606

Silvana H Santander-Parra, David I De La Torre + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9080606

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Abstract

Chicken parvovirus (ChPV) is an agent frequently associated with runting stunting syndrome (RSS). This syndrome has been reported in association with ChPV in many countries, including Brazil; however, studies characterizing the virus on a molecular level are scarce, and ChPV pathogenicity in day-old chicks remains unclear. The aim of the present work was to establish the molecular characteristics of ChPV, determine the pathogenicity of ChPV in SPF chicks and detect and quantify ChPV by qPCR in several tissues and chicks of different ages. The experimental challenge was performed at one day of age, and daily and weekly observations were performed and five birds from each experimental group (mock and infected birds) were euthanized to perform the different analysis. ChPV genome copies were detected and quantified by qPCR in gut, spleen, thymus, kidney, pancreas, proventriculus and bursa. Clinically, the infected group presented with diarrhea 24 h post-infection, which persisted until 42 days of age. The small intestine was distended, and its contents were aqueous and foamy. Enteritis and dilated crypts with cyst shapes were observed in intestinal segments. Acute pancreatitis associated with lymphocytic nodules, infiltrating lymphocytes and plasma cells between the pancreatic acinus was observed. Koch’s postulate was demonstrated and the genetic characterization of the VP1 gene showed that the Brazilian ChPV isolate belongs to the ChPV II group.

Highlights

Enteric disorders are considered the most important concern to poultry gut health due to their compromising effect on poultry growth
The pathogenicity, viral tissue distribution and molecular characterization of Chicken parvovirus (ChPV) in chicks from a strain isolated in Brazil were determined with a demonstration of Koch’s postulates according to our previous description [21]
Available, and the complete genome refers to the ChPV reference strain ABU-P1, which was followed by viral genomes from Korea [24], the United States [4] and China [23]

Summary

Introduction

Enteric disorders are considered the most important concern to poultry gut health due to their compromising effect on poultry growth. Enteric disorders have a multifactorial etiology and are associated with bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) is commonly reported in poultry production and is associated with several viruses, such as astrovirus, rotavirus, reovirus, coronavirus and parvovirus, and bacteria, including coccidia [7,8,9,10,11,12]. Chicken parvovirus (ChPV) has been detected in several outbreaks of enteric diseases, principally in young animals showing signs of RSS. ChPV is a nonenveloped DNA virus with a genome approximately 5 kb in length [17,18]

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