Conventional and molecular detection of Avipoxviruses from chickens, pigeons and turkeys

Abstract

In the present study, a total of 90 cutaneous lesions samples were collected from chickens, pigeons, and turkeys farms in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt during summer 2016. These farms suspected to be infected with Avipoxviruses (APVs).Thirty pooled samples were created (10 from chickens, 10 from pigeons and 10 from turkeys). Hyperimmune serum was prepared against standard fowlpox virus in adult white New Zealand rabbits. APV were identified in the collected samples using agar gel precipitation test (AGPT), indirect immunoperoxidase, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on 4b gene of APVs. The results revealed that out of 30 tested samples there were 16 samples (53.3%) tested positive via AGPT including, 6 chicken samples (60%) , 5 pigeon samples (50%) and 5 turkey samples (50%). while using indirect immunoperoxidase, positive results were detected in 23 samples (76.7%) including, 8 chicken samples (80%), 8 pigeon samples (80%) and 7 turkey samples (70%).The 4b gene of APVs was detected using PCR in all tested samples (100%). In conclusion, Indirect immunoperoxidase is superior over AGPT in APVs detection in collected samples from chickens, pigeons and turkeys. PCR could be efficiently used in molecular diagnosis of the virus.