Abstract
Avian infectious bronchitis virus is a highly contagious disease occurring in respiratory, urogenital, and reproductive tissues of chicken causing considerable losses due to death, egg drop, and reduced production. This preliminary study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and to assess the potential risk factors in chickens of northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to June 2021. A total of 768 serum samples from three zones were collected. To investigate the presence of antibodies against IBV, the indirect ELISA serological test was applied. Positivity for anti-IBV antibodies was observed in 23.96% (95% CI: 20.98–27.14) of the samples. The mixed-effect logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors showed that IBV prevalence was significantly higher in young chickens than adults (p < 0.001) and higher in intensive farm type than in extensive type (p < 0.001). Based on the production purposes of the chickens, the odds of seropositivity for IB was significantly higher in layers than in broilers (p < 0.001) and dual purposes (p < 0.001). This study revealed higher seroprevalence in farms which had the “all-in-all-out” rearing method than in farms with different batches in one house with a significant difference (p < 0.001), higher seroprevalence in the poor ventilated type than in good ones (p < 0.001), and higher seroprevalence in the houses that did not remove used litter at all than houses of completely disposed and partially disposed litter (p=0.002). Moreover, disinfection of houses had significant effect on the occurrence of IB. Having personal protective equipment was significantly affecting the occurrence of IB, being higher in the farms that have no wearing clothes and shoe than in those having wearing clothes and shoe (p=0.002). In conclusion, the seroprevalence finding in the present study indicated that the organism is circulating among the population of chickens and high enough to cause significant economic losses Therefore, poultry houses should be cleaned, disinfected, and well ventilated and farm attendants should have separate farm shoe and clothes. Further studies on the virus isolation and molecular characterization of the target gene are needed in the study area.
Highlights
Ethiopia is gifted with numerous livestock species with an estimated population of 56.5 million poultry [1]
Several viruses have been associated with respiratory infection in poultry, such as Newcastle disease, Infectious bronchitis virus, infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), pneumoviral infections, and avian influenza which are among the diseases that could jeopardize the health status of the poultry [5]. ese respiratory pathogens are of major importance because they can cause disease independently and selfsufficiently, in association with each other or in association with bacterial or some of the risk factors like environmental factors [4]
Of the total 768 blood sera tested, 184 samples were positive for infectious bronchitis virus antibody. e overall prevalence of IB was found to be 23.96% (Table 1)
Summary
Ethiopia is gifted with numerous livestock species with an estimated population of 56.5 million poultry [1]. Poultry production has an important economic, social, and cultural benefit and plays a significant role in family nutrition in developing countries including Ethiopia. E proportional contribution of poultry to the total animal protein production of the world is believed to increase by 40%, the major increase being in the developing world [2]. Disease and predators, extension problems, exotic chicken adaptation challenges, and veterinary service shortages are the major poultry sector headaches [3]. High morbidity rate and reduced egg and meat production are caused by respiratory tract infections, which are of paramount importance in the poultry industry because e Scientific World Journal high mortality may occur in poorly managed cases [4]. Several viruses have been associated with respiratory infection in poultry, such as Newcastle disease, Infectious bronchitis virus, infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), pneumoviral infections, and avian influenza which are among the diseases that could jeopardize the health status of the poultry [5]. ese respiratory pathogens are of major importance because they can cause disease independently and selfsufficiently, in association with each other or in association with bacterial or some of the risk factors like environmental factors [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
