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Shell-Less Egg Syndrome (SES) Widespread in Western Canadian Layer Operations Is Linked to a Massachusetts (Mass)
Aruna Amarasinghe1, Shelly Popowich2, Upasama De Silva Senapathi3
1Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Health Research Innovation Center 2C53, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada. amarasinghearachchig@ucalgary.ca.
Viruses
|August 22, 2018
Summary
Shell-less egg syndrome (SES) in Western Canada layer flocks is potentially caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Most IBV isolates were Massachusetts type, and a Mass type IBV reproduced SES in experimental chickens.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Poultry Disease Research
- Avian Pathology
Background:
- Shell-less egg syndrome (SES) causes significant economic losses in egg layer flocks.
- The exact cause of SES has remained unknown since its emergence in Western Canada in 2010.
- Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is known to cause eggshell abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in shell-less egg syndrome (SES).
- To screen egg layer flocks in Alberta and Saskatchewan for IBV infection.
- To characterize IBV isolates and determine their association with SES.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 27 egg layer flocks in Alberta and Saskatchewan for IBV infection.
- Molecular characterization of 30 IBV isolates using the spike (S) 1 gene.
- Experimental reproduction of SES in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens using a Massachusetts (Mass) type IBV isolate.
Main Results:
- Eighty-one percent of screened flocks tested positive for IBV.
- IBV isolates clustered into three genotypes, with 70% identified as Massachusetts (Mass) type.
- A Mass type IBV isolate successfully reproduced SES in SPF chickens.
Conclusions:
- Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), particularly the Massachusetts type, is a likely cause of shell-less egg syndrome (SES) in Western Canadian layer flocks.
- Further research is needed to explore other IBV genotypes, understand SES pathogenesis, and develop preventative vaccines.
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