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Molecular characterization of avian astroviruses

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Abstract

Astroviruses are frequently associated with enteric diseases in poultry, being isolated from cases of runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) of broiler chickens, poult enteritis complex (PEC), and poult enteritis mortality syndrome (PEMS) of turkeys. Currently, five types of avian astrovirus have been identified: turkey astroviruses 1 and 2 (TAstV-1, TAstV-2), avian nephritis virus (ANV), chicken astrovirus (CAstV) and duck astrovirus (DAstV). The objective of this study was to molecularly characterize the different types of avian astroviruses circulating in commercial poultry. Sequence analysis of a region of ORF2, which encodes the capsid precursor protein associated with serotype and viral pathogenesis, revealed extensive variation in amino acid sequence within each subtype: TAstV-2 (81.5%-100%), ANV (69.9%-100%), and CAstV (85.3%-97.9%). However, this region was more conserved in TAstV-1’s (96.2%-100%). Furthermore, a novel astrovirus was detected in chicken samples and found to be <64% similar to ANV and <30.6% similar to CAstV. The results of this study underline the great genetic variability of avian astroviruses and indicate that there are most likely multiple serotypes of each avian astrovirus circulating in commercial poultry.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully appreciate the assistance provided by Diane Smith in conducting this study. The authors also thank the SAA sequencing facility at SEPRL and Melissa Scott for technical assistance. This work was supported by USDA CRIS project 6612-32000-054 and by Grant F0008 from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30605, USA

    M. J. Pantin-Jackwood, L. Zsak, J. M. Day & E. Spackman

  2. Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, 1909 Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    K. O. Strother

  3. Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 953 College Station Road, Athens, GA, USA

    E. Mundt

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  1. M. J. Pantin-Jackwood
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  2. K. O. Strother
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  3. E. Mundt
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  4. L. Zsak
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  5. J. M. Day
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  6. E. Spackman
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Correspondence to M. J. Pantin-Jackwood.

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Pantin-Jackwood, M.J., Strother, K.O., Mundt, E. et al. Molecular characterization of avian astroviruses. Arch Virol 156, 235–244 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-010-0849-z

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