Received this in my e-mail last night. Thanks Sara!
Title
Detection of rotaviruses and intestinal lesions in broiler chicks from
flocks with runting and stunting syndrome (RSS).Source
Avian Diseases. 50(3):411-8, 2006 Sep.Abstract
The intestinal tract and intestinal contents were collected from 34
stunted, 5-to-14-day-old broiler chicks from eight flocks with runting and
stunting syndrome (RSS) in Northern Germany to investigate intestinal
lesions and the presence of enteric pathogens with a special focus on
rotaviruses (RVs). Seven chicks from a healthy flock were used as
controls. Severe villous atrophy was seen in chicks from six flocks with
RSS but not in the control flock. Lesions were often “regionally”
distributed in the middle-to-distal small intestine. Transmission electron
microscopy (TEM), polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE),
reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and seminested
RT-PCR were used for detection and characterization of RVs. The PAGE
allows discrimination of different RV groups, and the RT-PCR was used to
verify the presence of group (gp) A RVs. RVs were detected (by all
methods) in 32 of 34 chicks from the flocks with RSS. By TEM (negative
staining), RV particles were observed in intestinal contents of 28 chicks
from the flocks with RSS. PAGE analysis showed four RV groups: gpA, gpD,
gpF, and gpG. Group A RVs were detected in four chicks from two flocks
with RSS, without intestinal lesions. GpD RVs were detected in 12 chicks
of five flocks with RSS, 10 of them with severe villous atrophy. GpF RVs
were confirmed in four chicks from three flocks with RSS and in two birds
in the control flock. GpG RVs were verified in two chicks from two flocks
with RSS, one with, and one without, intestinal lesions. At present, PCR
methods are only available for detection of gpA RVs. Using RT-PCR, gpA RVs
were identified in samples from 22 chicks including samples of two chicks
from the control flock. Statistical analysis revealed a positive
correlation between presence of gpD RV and severe villous atrophy in
flocks with RSS. The results suggest that gpD RV plays a major role in the
pathogenesis of RSS.
