Identification and assessment of virulence of a natural reassortant of infectious bursal disease virus

We report the genetic and phenotypic characterization of a field reassortant IBDV (designated as Bpop/03) that acquired segment A from very virulent IBDV and segment B from classical attenuated D78-like IBDV. Despite the mosaic genetic make-up, the virus caused high mortality (80%) in experimentally infected SPF chickens and induced lesions typical of the acute form of IBD. The in vivo study results are in contrast with the foregoing experimental investigations in which the natural reassortants exhibited an intermediate pathotype, and underline the complex nature of IBDV virulence.
Source: Veterinary Research - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research