title: Isolation and characterization of avian metapneumovirus from chickens in Korea.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Avian Disease Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hyun-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jeong-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Youn-Jeong
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Dong-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Seung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: In-Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joong-Bok
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Seon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral