Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)

Test code: S0086 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of infectious bronchitis virus by reverse transcription coupled real time polymerase chain reaction.  This assay detects but does not differentiate the Connecticut and Massachusetts strains of IBV. NOTE: THIS TEST IS NOT PERFORMED ON SAMPLES TAKEN FROM BIRDS OWNED OR LOCATED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

S0086 is included in the poultry respiratory panel

Infectious bronchitis in chickens is caused by avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus. Infected chickens develop various respiratory signs including gasping, coughing, sneezing, tracheal rales, and nasal discharge. In young chickens, severe respiratory distress may occur.

Besides attacking the respiratory tract of infected chickens, the virus can infect the uro-genital tract and other organs. In addition to respiratory symptoms, infected birds may develop egg drops or kidney damage.

Infectious bronchitis can be difficult to diagnose by traditional means because symptoms are similar to those of other poultry respiratory infections such as Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Newcastle disease virus, metapneumovirus, and infectious laryngotracheitis virus.

Although morbidity is high, the mortality rate in an IBV infected flock varies depending on standards of management and on possible involvement of secondary bacterial infections.

Traditionally IBV diagnosis relied on virus isolation, but this method is not very sensitive. Serological diagnosis relies on measuring antibody titers and may not be quick enough to allow effective control of the spread of the disease. Molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enables rapid, sensitive, and specific identification of the virus (Zwaagstra et al., 1992).

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Environmental monitoring
• Help ensure that bird populations are free of IBV
• Early prevention of spread of the virus among bird populations
• Minimize human exposure to the virus
• Safety monitoring of biological products and vaccines that derive from birds

References:
Zwaagstra, K.A., van der Zeijst, B.A.M. and Kusters, J.G. (1992). Rapid detection and identification of avian bronchitis virus. J. Clin. Microbiol., 30, 79–84.

Specimen requirements: Tracheal swab.

Contact Zoologix if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative reverse transcription coupled real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected