Temporo-Spatial Sero-epidemiology of Fowl Adenovirus (FAdV) Infection Causing Inclusion Body Hepatitis-Hydropericardium Syndrome (IBH-HPS) in Broiler Population of Assam

Abstract

Background: Aviadenoviruses affect birds, particularly chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pheasants, which have total 12 serotypes. Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) caused by aviadenovirus was has been reported in many countries worldwide. The diseases was first reported from Assam in 2017. Although there is increasing reports of the occurrence of IBH-HPS in the broiler population of North Eastern India, but its prevalence at different geoclimatic condition and at various seasons have not been carried out. Under these circumstances, the present study was envisaged to analyse the seroprevalence status of Fowl adenovirus infection in some broiler rearing districts of Assam. Methods: For the present study, blood samples were collected from 12 different districts of Assam including all agroclimatic regions during the period from June, 2016 to May, 2017. Association of various factors like age, season and health status with the prevalence of the affected birds were also studied. Indirect ELISA was performed by using commercially available FAdV ELISA kit. The results obtained were analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0.Result: A total of 460 serum samples were screened, of which 213 were found positive for FAdV antibodies with a sero-positivity of 46.38 per cent. FAdV antibodies were observed in all age grouped birds. Highest (64.28%) positivity was recorded in the birds of 4th week of age, followed by above 4th week (63.47%), 3rd week (32.03%), 2nd week (27.36%) and 1st week (10.0%). Health status-wise 68.97 percent sero-positivity was recorded in the affected flock, where as 32.51 percent in apparently healthy flock. Season-wise, highest (61.53%) sero-positivity was recorded in post monsoon season followed by monsoon (49.00%), winter (32.49%) and pre-monsoon (32.39%).