Detection and characterization of infectious bursal disease viruses in broilers at processing

The presence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in broilers entering processing plants was examined. The dissemination of IBDV and the introduction of non-native strains for example very virulent (vv) IBDV have had a negative economic impact on poultry production in many countries. Restrictions have been placed on the import and export of poultry products by some countries. There is a perceived risk that IBDV can be spread through transportation and contamination of processing equipment, poultry protein products and processing plant personnel. This risk, however, is fundamentally unknown because scientific studies have not been conducted on the presence of IBDV in birds entering processing plants or the variables that may affect this risk during and post-harvest. The goal of this study was to determine if infectious IBDV was present in broilers entering processing plants. A total of 47 pooled bursa samples from 26 processing plants in the Eastern U.S. were examined. Molecular testing indicated that an IBDV specific RT-PCR was positive in 12 (25.5%) of the samples from 11 different processing plants. Nucleotide sequence analysis was conducted on the 12 RT-PCR positive samples and indicated the IBDV was not commercially available attenuated vaccine strains. Most of the sequences were unique and a phylogenic analysis indicated they were most closely related to variant strains of IBDV. Five RT-PCR positive samples were selected at random for testing in specific-pathogen-free chickens. All five samples contained infectious IBDV as evidenced by macroscopic lesions and bursa/body weight ratios that were significantly lower in infected birds than in the non-inoculated controls. The five viruses were re-identified in bursa tissue from chickens in their respective groups at necropsy using RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing. The results indicate that infectious and pathogenic IBDV are entering processing plants in this geographic region of the U.S. Additional studies are needed on post-harvest variables that could increase or decrease the risk that these viruses are being disseminated during this process.