Detection by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and molecular characterization of subtype B avian metapneumovirus isolated in Brazil.
Subtype B avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) was isolated and detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in Brazilian commercial laying chicken flocks with no history of vaccination against aMPV and presenting respiratory signs and decreased egg production. RT-PCR results from samples from three affected flocks revealed that the three isolates were subtype B. Partial sequence analysis of the G glycoprotein gene confirmed that the samples belonged to subtype B and were not of the vaccine type. Comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the G gene of the three Brazilian aMPV samples with subtype B isolates from other countries revealed 95.1% to 96.1% identity. Nucleotide sequences showed 100% identity among the Brazilian subtype B samples and 95.6% identity with the subtype B vaccine strain used in Brazil. This work describes the circulation of subtype B aMPV in Brazil and discusses its importance in terms of disease epidemiology.
Chacón
Jorge Luis
JL
Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo, Avenida Professor Doutor Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Brandão
Paulo E
PE
Buim
Marcos
M
Villarreal
Laura
L
Ferreira
Antonio J Piantino
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005814:Genes, Viral; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication