Coinfection of Chicken Anaemia Virus, Mycoplasma Gallisepticum, Avian Metapneumovirus and Avian Reovirus in Fancy Chicken Breeds

Abstract

In this report, a case of concomitant Chicken anaemia virus (CAV), Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) and Avian reovirus (ARV) infection in fancy chicken breeds is presented. It concerns fancy chickens at the age from 2 weeks to 4 months with repetitive respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing, whistling sounds and conjunctivitis. The 5 chickens submitted at the Institute were with depression, rales and dyspnea as 2 of them had anaemia. The necropsy was performed after their humane euthanasia. The 2 older necropsed birds showed fibrinous airsacculitis with gathering caseous exudate and serous tracheitis. The air sacs of the younger chickens were with initial signs of opacity. Atrophy of the thymus was found in one of the examined chickens with anaemia. The 5 serum samples tested by rapid serum agglutination test with MG antigen, were positive for MG. CAV was confirmed in the five fancy chickens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in the both chickens with anaemia histologically. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined the presence of antibodies to aMPV and ARV in the five tested birds. This study is a case of confirming co-infection of CAV with MG, aMPV and ARV.