Navigating the Complexity: Advancing Diagnostic Strategies for Avian Reovirus in Chinese Poultry

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Poultry Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Avian reovirus (ARV) infections are a major threat to China's large poultry industry.
• Diverse farming systems create a unique niche for ARV, leading to complex genetic diversity, regional variations, and interspecies transmission.
• These factors compromise the effectiveness of current diagnostic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current epidemic landscape of ARV in China.
• To highlight molecular characteristics of ARV strains, especially from waterfowl, and their role in diagnostic evasion.
• To assess existing diagnostic techniques and explore innovative solutions for ARV detection.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of the current ARV epidemic situation in China.
• Critical assessment of conventional diagnostic techniques (virus isolation, ELISA, PCR/qPCR).
• Discussion of emerging technologies like multiplex qPCR, CRISPR-Cas, and next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Main Results:

• ARV in China exhibits complex serotypic and genotypic diversity with regional variations.
• Waterfowl strains play a significant role in ARV epidemiology and diagnostic evasion.
• Existing diagnostic methods have limitations in the Chinese epidemiological context.

Conclusions:

• Innovative technologies offer potential for next-generation ARV diagnostics tailored to China's challenges.
• Standardization, data sharing, and collaboration are crucial for implementing advanced diagnostics.
• Bridging the gap between innovation and practical application is key for precise ARV control.