Poultry Flash - Infectious Bronchitis Virus

Question 1

what is the classic case presentation of infectious bronchitis virus?

Answer 1

highly contagious acute upper respiratory disease that affects ONLY chickens with the young being most susceptible

gasping young birds, sharp decrease in egg production in layers, wrinkled eggs

Question 2

what are the main clinical signs seen with infectious bronchitis virus?

Answer 2

asymptomatic to respiratory, renal, & reproductive signs

depression, ruffled feathers, huddling heat seekers, inappetence, gasping, coughing, sneezing, conjunctivitis, periorbital swelling, diarrhea, urolithiasis, wrinkled eggs, watery albumin

Question 3

T/F: infectious bronchitis virus is reportable in some states

Answer 3

true

Question 4

what is seen on necropsy of a chicken with infectious bronchitis virus?

Answer 4

trachea, nasal passages, sinuses - edema wth serous mucus, yellow caseous exudates, caseous plugs in trachea/bronchi

kidneys - pale, swollen, white urates in distended tubules, ureters

oviducts - occluded, hypoglandular, cystic

coelemic cavity - egg yolk peritonitis

Question 5

how is infectious bronchitis virus diagnosed?

Answer 5

virus isolation - negative hemagglutination reaction with chicken RBC

antibody, antigen detection on serology with paired titers

RT PCR of viral RNA to distinguish serotypes

Question 6

how is infectious bronchitis treated?

Answer 6

supportive care & abx for secondary bacterial infections

Question 7

how is infectious bronchitis virus prevented?

Answer 7

vaccination, strict biosecurity, & sanitation protocols

Question 8

what is the agent that causes infectious bronchitis virus?

Answer 8

coronavirus - RNA virus

Question 9

how is infectious bronchitis virus transmitted?

Answer 9

direct contact & fomites

Question 10

how do you differentiate infectious bronchitis virus from newcastle & avian influenza?

Answer 10

hemagglutination test - bronchitis will not hemagglutinate chicken RBC

Question 11

what are the most important vectors for infectious bronchitis virus?

Answer 11

clinically recovered/asymptomatic birds (carriers)

Question 12

what are 4 reasons why infectious bronchitis is very hard to prevent/control?

Answer 12

1. highly contagious
2. numerous serotypes
3. multiple serotypes may be present in the same region
4. no cross protection between serotypes