B亚型禽偏肺病毒的分离鉴定及致病性研究

旨在确定我国部分养鸡场的鸡出现甩头、精神萎靡和肿头综合征是否由禽偏肺病毒（aMPV）引起,本研究从山东、福建、黑龙江等地的发病蛋鸡和肉鸡场采集鼻甲骨、气管和肺等样品,首先利用aMPV特异性的RT-PCR方法对临床样品进行初步检测,将RT-PCR检测阳性样品接种Vero细胞进行病毒分离,然后利用G/F基因序列分析及间接免疫荧光试验（IFA）等鉴定病毒的亚型,最后将分离株感染SPF鸡进行致病性分析。结果显示：在采集的220份样品中,RT-PCR检测结果显示,有3份鼻甲骨样品在228 bp左右出现特异性条带,将阳性病料接种Vero细胞盲传5代后,细胞出现变圆、聚集和融合等aMPV特征性细胞病变（CPE）,表明成功分离到3株aMPV,将其分别命名为SD2001、SD2002和HLJ2101。G和F基因同源性分析显示,来自蛋鸡的SD2001、SD2002和来自肉鸡的HLJ2101分离株的G和F基因与其他B亚型aMPV毒株的核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性均较高,核苷酸的相似性分别为93.4%～98.6%和95.6%～100.0%,氨基酸的相似性分别为88.7%～97.8%和97.6%～100.0%;而与A、C和D亚型的G和F基因同源性较低,核苷酸的相似性分别为27.1%～61.8%和66.8%～74.8%,氨基酸的相似性分别为16.1%～36.7%和72.5%～86.5%,这些结果表明,SD2001、SD2002和HLJ2101分离株属于B亚型aMPV。进一步利用B亚型aMPV特异性的阳性血清进行IFA检测,接种SD2001、SD2002和HLJ2101的Vero细胞均可以观察到特异性的绿色荧光信号,进一步证实3个分离株属于B亚型aMPV。选择SD2001感染3周龄SPF鸡进行了致病性研究,结果发现SPF鸡感染后3～6 d出现精神萎靡、甩头和流鼻涕等症状,鼻甲骨、气管和肺也出现病理性损伤,其发病率为90%（18/20）。3株B亚型aMPV的分离不仅有助于明确我国部分养鸡场出现肿头综合征的发病原因,同时也证实B亚型aMPV流行毒株对鸡有明显的致病性,这些结果为我国家禽疫病的诊断和有效防控提供了重要理论依据。     

Emergence of a virulent type C avian metapneumovirus in turkeys in Minnesota

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the pathogenesis of a recent isolate of avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) in turkeys and to evaluate the quantitative distribution of the virus in various tissues during the course of infection. Seventy 2-week-old turkey poults were divided equally into two groups. One group was inoculated with aMPV (MN 19) with a titer of 10(5.5) TCID50 oculonasally. Birds in the second group were maintained as sham-inoculated controls. Birds showed severe clinical signs in the form of copious nasal discharge, swollen sinus, conjunctivitis, and depression from 4 days postinoculation (PI) to 12 days PI. Samples from nasal turbinates, trachea, conjunctiva, Harderian gland, infraorbital sinus, lungs, liver, and spleen were collected at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 14 days PI. Histopathologic lesions such as a multifocal loss of cilia were prominent in nasal turbinate and were seen from 3 to 11 days PI. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of aMPV from 3 to 9 days PI in nasal turbinate and trachea. Viral RNA could be detected for 14 days PI from nasal turbinate and for 9 days from trachea. In situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of aMPV from 1 to 11 days PI in nasal turbinates and from 3 to 9 days PI in the trachea. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data showed the presence of a maximum amount of virus at 3 days PI in nasal turbinate and trachea. Clinically and histopathologically, the new isolate appears to be more virulent compared to the early isolates of aMPV in the United States.     

安徽省部分地区鸡群禽偏肺病毒感染的血清学调查

为掌握禽偏肺病毒(aMPV)在安徽省鸡群中的感染状况,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)对安徽省合肥、亳州、定远、舒城等地区的9个鸡场、7个不同品种(系)鸡群的296份血液样本进行了aMPV血清抗体检测。结果表明,所有被检鸡场均有aMPV感染,鸡场阳性率最高达100%,最低为20%;各品种(系)鸡均有感染,感染率最高的是青脚麻肉鸡,其次分别为科宝肉鸡、海兰蛋鸡、禽粤黄蛋鸡、淮南麻黄鸡、黄羽土鸡和新广麻肉鸡;其中蛋用型鸡血清样本总体阳性率为88.7%,明显高于肉用和兼用型鸡;公鸡和母鸡血清抗体阳性率均较高。研究结果表明,安徽省鸡群aMPV的感染已广泛存在,且不同地区、品种(系)、用途和性别的鸡群均较严重,应根据感染状况尽早制定相应的防控对策。     

Tissue distribution of avian infectious bronchitis virus following in ovo inoculation of chicken embryos examined by in situ hybridization with antisense digoxigenin-labeled universal riboprobe.

Chicken embryos were inoculated with 8 different strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) representing 7 different serotypes at 17 days of embryonation. At 2 and 5 days postinfection (dpi), tissues were collected for in situ hybridization using an antisense digoxigenin-labeled riboprobe corresponding to the sequence of the mRNA coding for the membrane protein. Extensive antigen staining in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the trachea, lung, bursa, and intestine was detected at 2 dpi with all 8 strains of IBV. At 5 dpi, little or no positive staining was observed in these tissues. However, tubular cells of the kidney showed multifocal positive staining with the Wolgemuth strain-, Gray strain-, JMK strain-, and Mass41 strain-infected chickens. No viral RNA was detected in the spleen at any time point. The results demonstrated strict epitheliotropic nature and wide tissue tropism of strains of IBV in the chicken embryo and the universality of our riboprobe. In situ hybridization with this probe will be useful for understanding the tissue tropism and the pathogenesis of IBV in vivo.     

雏鸡实验性鸡败血霉形体亚临床感染呼吸器官的组织病理学动态观察

对 18日龄 SPF鸡人工接种鸡败血霉形体 (MG) KPF2 1 株 ,分别在接种后 5、12、19、2 6、33d进行血清平板凝集试验、尸体剖检、病理组织学观察和呼吸器官的电镜观察。结果如下 :接种 MG后 ,雏鸡呈 MG血清学反应阳性 ,但无明显的临床症状 ;病理组织学观察 ,呼吸器官主要反应是淋巴细胞浸润 ,有颗粒白细胞增多。电镜观察证实了病理组织学观察的结果 ,同时还发现 ,接种后 19d MG贴附于呼吸道的粘膜上皮 ,引起细胞膜的不平整 ,继而破坏生物膜结构 ,使气管及支气管的纤毛脱落 ;气管粘膜上皮、肺毛细管壁细胞及气囊壁细胞的微绒毛脱落 ;细胞内质网和线粒体肿胀呈球状 ,线粒体嵴逐步消失 ,最终导致细胞死亡、崩解。呼吸器官的功能部分减退甚至消失。     

实验性鸡大肠杆菌病病理学动态变化

用致病性大肠杆菌O18分离株和／或低致病性禽流感病毒（Mildly pathogenic avian influenza virus ,MPAIV)接种10－12日龄SPF鸡。在接种后1－96h进行临床症状与大体病理变化、组织学观察发现：大肠杆菌接种组、MPAIV接种组和健康接种组除扑杀鸡外未见鸡死亡，MPAIV与大肠杆菌混合接种组除扑杀鸡外死亡率为24％。混合接种组的病变比大肠杆菌接种组出现的时间早，恢复也慢，各脏器的病理变化更严重。MPAIV主要引起各实质器官的坏死，结果表明，大肠杆菌经气管内接种后试验鸡主要表现为呼吸道的炎症反应；MPAVI可使鸡大肠杆菌病严重化。     

Early pathogenesis in chicks of infection with an enterotropic strain of infectious bronchitis virus

One-day-old specific-pathogen-free chicks were inoculated intranasally and intraocularly with infectious bronchitis virus (strain G). At days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 postinfection, three birds were euthanatized, and the virus contents of both enteric tissues and some non-enteric tissues were assayed. Immunofluorescence and histopathological studies were also conducted. Six of 30 chicks died of nephritis between days 5-10 postinfection. Gross kidney lesions were the major pathological abnormalities. Inflammation was observed histologically in trachea, kidney, and rectum. High virus titers were found at various times in trachea, kidney, and all enteric tissues except for the jejunum. Relatively high titers of virus were still detectable at day 14 postinfection in the kidney, proventriculus, cecal tonsil, ileum, rectum, and bursa of Fabricius. Immunofluorescence staining showed viral antigens in enterocytes at the tips of villi in the ileum and rectum, and in the bursa. Viral antigens were also demonstrated in the epithelial cells of the trachea and in kidney tubules.     

支气管炎型H9亚型禽流感病毒的分离与鉴定

广东省某鸡场发生一起以严重呼吸困难、急性死亡为特征的病例,5000只鸡在1周内连续死亡400多只。通过病理剖检,几乎所有病死鸡支气管都充满干酪样物质,导致支气管严重阻塞,气管及支气管黏膜严重出血。采集病死鸡的肝脏、脾、肺和气管干酪样物质,病料经处理后通过SPF鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜接种获得一株病毒。通过琼脂凝胶免疫扩散(AGP)试验,该病毒能与禽流感标准阳性血清形成明显沉淀线,初步确定该病毒为禽流感病毒;通过血凝HA试验,该病毒能够凝集鸡红细胞,但此血凝现象不能被抗NDV血清、抗EDSV-76血清、抗H 5亚型流感单因子血清、抗H 7亚型流感单因子血清所抑制,而能被抗H 9亚型禽流感单因子血清所抑制,以及通过H 9亚型流感病毒的RT-PCR分子生物学诊断方法,最终确诊该病毒为H 9亚型禽流感病毒。动物回归试验,攻毒鸡表现与临床发病鸡一致的症状及典型病理变化,患鸡支气管被干酷样物严重阻塞,气管、支气管黏膜较严重出血,通过病料的病毒分离与鉴定,能再次分离到该病毒。     

Pathogenic and immunogenic responses in turkeys following in ovo exposure to avian metapneumovirus subtype C

Commercial turkey eggs, free of antibodies to avian metapneumovirus subtype C (aMPV/C), were inoculated with aMPV/C at embryonation day (ED) 24. There was no detectable effect of virus inoculation on the hatchability of eggs. At 4 days post inoculation (DPI) (the day of hatch (ED 28)) and 9 DPI (5 days after hatch), virus replication was detected by quantitative RT-PCR in the turbinate, trachea and lung but not in the thymus or spleen. Mild histological lesions characterized by lymphoid cell infiltration were evident in the turbinate mucosa. Virus exposure inhibited the mitogenic response of splenocytes and thymocytes and upregulated gene expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 in the turbinate tissue. Turkeys hatching from virus-exposed eggs had aMPV/C-specific IgG in the serum and the lachrymal fluid. At 3 week of age, in ovo immunized turkeys were protected against a challenge with pathogenic aMPV/C.     

Antibody responses in sera and respiratory secretions from chickens infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Antibodies in sera and respiratory secretions from chickens infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chickens intratracheally inoculated with 10(5) cells of MG showed a correlation between severity of tracheal lesions and extent of MG colonization in the tracheas in the first 3 weeks postinoculation. Antibody titers in tracheal washings (TWs) of the infected chickens increased during this phase. Thereafter, isolation of MG from the trachea decreased sharply, and there was a concomitant decrease in tracheal lesion scores. At 5 weeks postinfection, the chickens that recovered from the infection exhibited a consistent presence of antibodies in TWs. Chickens reexposed had a faster rate of MG elimination and substantially less severe inflammatory lesions in the tracheas than chickens observed after the first exposure. These findings suggest a possible role of antibodies of the respiratory secretions in resistance to MG. The ELISA was a sensitive and reliable test to detect a minute amount of antibodies in the secretions.     

B亚型禽偏肺病毒对SPF鸡的致病性

利用分离的1株B亚型禽偏肺病毒,采用静脉注射和点眼滴鼻两种途径接种SPF鸡,并在接种同时免疫新城疫弱毒疫苗。在攻毒后3、6、9、12、15d,每组随机抽取3只翅下采血,检测血液生化指标,利用血凝和血凝抑制试验检测新城疫HI抗体效价;利用流式细胞术分析外周血CD40／CD8比值,ELISA试剂盒测定血清中IL-2、IFN7的含量;同时观察静脉注射组和点眼滴鼻组鸡的临床症状、剖检病变和病理组织学变化。结果表明,攻毒后9～15d,静脉注射组和点眼滴鼻组外周血CD4＋/CD8＋比值和血清II-2、IFN-γ的含量均显著低于对照组（P〈0．05）,而静脉注射组与点眼滴鼻组间无显著差异（P〉0．05）;静脉注射组和点眼滴鼻组的免疫器官指数低于对照组,但各组间差异不显著（P〉0．05）;各组间新城疫HI抗体水平无显著差异（P〉0．05）;血液生化指标仪谷丙转氨酶（ALT）和谷草转氨酶（AST）在攻毒后显著升高（P〈0．05）,其他指标在各组间无显著差异（P〉0．05）;静脉注射组和点眼滴鼻组在感染后3～10d出现轻微临床症状;病理组织学检测结果显示,静脉注射组和点眼滴鼻组的呼吸道和肝脏病变最明显。综上所述,B亚型禽偏肺病毒感染SPF鸡后,在一段时间内抑制机体细胞免疫,导致免疫机能下降,并引起轻微的组织病变;B亚型禽偏肺病毒通过两种不同的攻毒途径对SPF鸡的致病性无显著差异。     

Onset of immunity following in ovo delivery of avian metapneumovirus vaccines

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is an important cause of disease in chickens and turkeys. As infection can occur early in life and spread of the virus throughout a flock is rapid, an early onset of immunity post-vaccination would be advantageous. We have studied the serological immune response and the onset of protective immunity of an aMPV vaccine delivered to chickens via the in ovo route compared to oculonasal delivery at day old. A 1000-fold lower dose delivered in ovo to chicken specific pathogen free (SPF) embryos, than vaccination at day old, provided a significantly higher antibody response. In the presence of maternally derived antibody (MDA), there was no significant difference in antibody response between the vaccination routes. However, the onset of immunity (OOI) for the vaccine delivered to MDA positive chicken embryos was 5 days post-hatch in comparison to 8 days post-hatch for the same dose of vaccine given at day old indicating that chicks would be protected against disease earlier in the field if vaccinated by the in ovo route. In further experiments the OOI for a turkey vaccine delivered to MDA positive turkey embryos was shown to be 8 days post-hatch.     

Drop of egg production in chickens by experimental infection with an avian metapneumovirus strain PLE8T1 derived from swollen head syndrome and the application to evaluate vaccine

Decreases in egg production and increased incidence of abnormal eggs due to malformation of egg shells were observed in specific pathogen free (SPF) 173-day-old laying hens inoculated intravenously with an avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) strain PLE8T1. This strain was derived from an isolate from broiler birds exhibiting swollen head syndrome (SHS). Some SPF birds inoculated with the virus showed, slight diarrhea without any respiratory symptoms. Thus, the PLE8T1 strain was used as a challenge virus to evaluate efficacy of aMPV vaccines. SPF chickens which received a live attenuated aMPV vaccine (NEMOVAC; Merial) at 7 or 77 days old and an inactivated aMPV vaccine (OVO-4; Merial) at 105 days old were protected against poor egg production caused by the challenge with the PLE8T1 strain. Thus, aMPV, the PLE8T1 strain passaged 22 times after isolation, from birds exhibiting SHS, could induce a drop in egg production in laying hens accompanied by malformation of egg shells. It was suggested that this challenge system could be applied to evaluate the efficacy of aMPV vaccine.     

Cryptosporidium baileyi: effects of intra-abdominal and intravenous inoculation of oocysts on infectivity and site of development in broiler chickens

Developmental stages of Cryptosporidium baileyi were observed on the epithelium of the larynx, trachea, primary and secondary bronchi, air sacs, bursa of Fabricius, and cloaca of 12 chickens inoculated intra-abdominally with oocysts. All 12 birds inoculated intra-abdominally developed clinical signs of respiratory disease and had gross lesions of airsacculitis at necropsy. Developmental stages of C. baileyi and clinical signs of disease were not observed in 12 chickens inoculated intravenously with oocysts. The response of chickens to intra-abdominal inoculation of oocysts was similar to responses recorded following intratracheal inoculation of oocysts in previous studies.     

Avian metapneumovirus subtype A in China and subtypes A and B in Nigeria

In order to detect and characterize avian metapneumovirus, organs or swabs were collected from 697 chicken and 110 turkeys from commercial farms in Southwestern Nigeria and from 107 chickens from live bird markets in Southeastern China. In Nigeria, 15% and 6% of the chicken and turkey samples, respectively, and 39% of the chicken samples from China, were positive for aMPV genome by PCR. The sequence of a 400 nt fragment of the attachment protein gene (G gene) revealed the presence of aMPV subtype A in both Nigeria and Southeastern China. Essentially identical subtype A viruses were found in both countries and were also previously reported from Brazil and the United Kingdom, suggesting a link between these countries or a common source of this subtype. In Nigeria, subtype B was also found, which may be a reflection of chicken importations from most major poultry-producing countries in Europe and Asia. In order to justify countermeasures, further studies are warranted to better understand the metapneumoviruses and their impact on poultry production.     

Escherichia coli multiplication and lesions in the respiratory tract of chickens inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and/or E. coli.

Escherichia coli numbers and histopathological changes were studied in the respiratory tract of line 151 chickens intranasally inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and/or virulent E. coli; this line is highly susceptible to IBV. Chickens inoculated with IBV alone showed increased numbers of E. coli in the trachea and had tracheitis, airsacculitis, and bronchiolitis. One of 17 chickens inoculated with IBV alone died with fibrinopurulent serositis. Chickens inoculated with IBV and E. coli had more severe and persistent respiratory lesions than those inoculated with IBV alone. E. coli was isolated from tracheas of chickens inoculated with IBV and E. coli more frequently than from chickens inoculated with IBV alone. In this group, 14 of 27 chickens died with tracheal plugs or with fibrinopurulent serositis. There was neither increased numbers of E. coli nor significant lesions in the respiratory tract of the group inoculated with E. coli alone. These results suggest that IBV may facilitate E. coli invasion into the lower respiratory tract of the chicken.