Isolation and characterization of avian metapneumovirus from chickens in Korea.
Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) causes upper respiratory tract infections in chickens and turkeys. Although the swollen head syndrome (SHS) associated with aMPV in chickens has been reported in Korea since 1992, this is the study isolating aMPV from chickens in this country. We examined 780 oropharyngeal swab or nasal turbinate samples collected from 130 chicken flocks to investigate the prevalence of aMPV and to isolate aMPV from chickens from 2004-2008. Twelve aMPV subtype A and 13 subtype B strains were detected from clinical samples by the aMPV subtype A and B multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR). Partial sequence analysis of the G glycoprotein gene confirmed that the detected aMPVs belonged to subtypes A and B. Two aMPVs subtype A out of the 25 detected aMPVs were isolated by Vero cell passage. In animal experiments with an aMPV isolate, viral RNA was detected in nasal discharge, although no clinical signs of SHS were observed in chickens. In contrast to chickens, turkeys showed severe nasal discharge and a relatively higher titer of viral excretion than chickens. Here, we reveal the co-circulation of aMPV subtypes A and B, and isolate aMPVs from chicken flocks in Korea.
Kwon
Ji-Sun
JS
Avian Disease Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Korea.
Lee
Hyun-Jeong
HJ
Jeong
Seung-Hwan
SH
Park
Jeong-Yong
JY
Hong
Young-Ho
YH
Lee
Youn-Jeong
YJ
Youn
Ho-Sik
HS
Lee
Dong-Woo
DW
Do
Sun-Hee
SH
Park
Seung-Yong
SY
Choi
In-Soo
IS
Lee
Joong-Bok
JB
Song
Chang-Seon
CS
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014422:Turkeys
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral