Phenotypic, genotypic and antigenic characterization of emerging avian reoviruses isolated from clinical cases of arthritis in broilers in Saskatchewan, Canada.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, emerging strains of pathogenic arthrogenic avian reovirus (ARV) have become a challenge to the chicken industry across USA and Canada causing significant economic impact. In this study, we characterized emerging variant ARV strains and examined their genetic and antigenic relationship with reference strains. We isolated 37 emerging variant ARV strains from tendons of broiler chickens with clinical cases of arthritis/tenosynovitis at commercial farms in Saskatchewan, Canada. Viral characterization using immunocytochemistry, gold-immunolabeling and electron microscopy revealed distinct features characteristic of ARV. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses of the viral Sigma C gene revealed genetic heterogeneity between the fiel

SUBMITTER: Ayalew LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5472580 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature