Molecular epidemiology of fowl adenoviruses in Greece

Biological features of fowl adenovirus serotype-4

Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is highly pathogenic to broilers aged 3 to 5 weeks and has caused considerable economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. FAdV-4 is the causative agent of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) or hydropericardium syndrome (HPS). The virus targets mainly the liver, and HPS symptoms are observed in infected chickens. This disease was first reported in Pakistan but has now spread worldwide, and over time, various deletions in the FAdV genome and mutations in its major structural proteins have been detected. This review provides detailed information about FAdV-4 genome organization, physiological features, epidemiology, coinfection with other viruses, and host immune suppression. Moreover, we investigated the role and functions of important structural proteins in FAdV-4 pathogenesis. Finally, the potential regulatory effects of FAdV-4 infection on ncRNAs are also discussed.

Immunoprotection of FliBc chimeric fiber2 fusion proteins targeting dendritic cells against Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 infection

Hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) is a highly fatal disease in chickens caused by the highly pathogenic fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4), which has severe economic consequences. The fiber2 protein exhibits excellent potential as a candidate for a subunit vaccination against FAdV-4. Despite having a high safety profile, subunit vaccines have low immunogenicity due to their lack of infectivity, which leads to low levels of immune response. As a vaccine adjuvant, Salmonella flagellin possesses the potential to augment the immunological response to vaccinations. Additionally, a crucial strategy for enhancing vaccine efficacy is efficient presentation of immune antigens to dendritic cells (DC) for targeted vaccination. In this study, we designed FAdV-4-fiber2 protein, and a recombinant protein called FliBc-fiber2-SP which based on FAdV-4-fiber2 protein, was generated using the gene sequence FliBc, which retains only the conserved sequence at the amino and carboxyl termini of the flagellin B subunit, and a short peptide SPHLHTSSPWER (SP), which targets chicken bone marrow-derived DC. They were separately administered via intramuscular injection to 14-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, and their immunogenicity was compared. At 21 d postvaccination (dpv), it was found that the FliBc-fiber2-SP recombinant protein elicited significantly higher levels of IgG antibodies and conferred a vaccine protection rate of up to 100% compared to its counterpart fiber2 protein. These results suggest that the DC-targeted peptide fusion strategy for flagellin chimeric antigen construction can effectively enhance the immune protective efficacy of antigen proteins.

Preparation and evaluation of the immune efficacy of an inactivated fowl adenovirus 8a serotype oil emulsion vaccine

In recent years, fowl adenovirus (FAdV) transmission has significantly increased worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. The virus causes hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) and inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). The prevalent FAdV strains in China are FAdV-4, FAdV-8a, FAdV-8b, and FAdV-11. Vaccines for FAdV-4 and FAdV-8b, which prevent HHS and IBH, are available commercially, but no vaccine exists for FAdV-8a. To address this issue, we developed a vaccine using an oil emulsion to inactivate the FAdV-8a serotype. Additionally, we built a fluorescence quantitative PCR for the detection of the virus. The lowest concentration detected was 4.11 × 101 copies/μL. The study's results illustrated that the FAdV-8a oil emulsion vaccine effectively produced significant antibodies and offered ample protection for poultry. This vaccine can potentially limit the transmission of IBH resulting from FAdV-8a in China.

Conflicting Evidence between Clinical Perception and Molecular Epidemiology: The Case of Fowl Adenovirus D

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs, species FAdV-A/-E) are responsible for several clinical syndromes reported with increasing frequency in poultry farms in the last decades. In the present study, a phylodynamic analysis was performed on a group of FAdV-D Hexon sequences with adequate available metadata. The obtained results demonstrated the long-term circulation of this species, at least several decades before the first identification of the disease. After a period of progressive increase, the viral population showed a high-level circulation from approximately the 1960s to the beginning of the new millennium, mirroring the expansion of intensive poultry production and animal trade. At the same time, strain migration occurred mainly from Europe to other continents, although other among-continent connections were estimated. Thereafter, the viral population declined progressively, likely due to the improved control measures, potentially including the development and application of FAdV vaccines. An increase in the viral evolutionary rate featured this phase. A role of vaccine-induced immunity in shaping viral evolution could thus be hypothesized. Accordingly, several sites of the Hexon, especially those targeted by the host response were proven under a significant pervasive or episodic diversifying selection. The present study results demonstrate the role of intensive poultry production and market globalization in the rise of FAdV. The applied control strategies, on the other hand, were effective in limiting viral circulation and shaping its evolution.

Epidemiology, pathology, prevention, and control strategies of inclusion body hepatitis and hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome in poultry: A comprehensive review

Infection with fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) can result in a number of syndromes in the production of chicken, including inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), and others, causing enormous economic losses around the globe. FAdVs are divided into 12 serotypes and five species (A-E; 1-8a and 8b-11). Most avian species are prone to infection due to the widespread distribution of FAdV strains. The genus aviadenovirus, which is a member of the adenoviridae family, is responsible for both IBH and HHS. The most popular types of transmission are mechanical, vertical, and horizontal. Hepatitis with basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies distinguishes IBH, but the buildup of translucent or straw-colored fluid in the pericardial sac distinguishes HHS. IBH and HHS require a confirmatory diagnosis because their clinical symptoms and postmortem abnormalities are not unique to those conditions. Under a microscope, the presence of particular lesions and inclusion bodies may provide clues. Traditional virus isolation in avian tissue culture is more delicate than in avian embryonated eggs. Additionally, aviadenovirus may now be quickly and precisely detected using molecular diagnostic tools. Preventive techniques should rely on efficient biosecurity controls and immunize breeders prior to production in order to protect progeny. This current review gives a general overview of the current local and global scenario of IBH, and HHS brought on by FAdVs and covers both their issues and preventative vaccination methods.

Current epidemiological situation in the context of inclusion body hepatitis in poultry flocks in Poland

The research has been undertaken to understand the spreading of adenovirus strains in Poland's poultry flocks in the last six years. One hundred and forty-nine herds suspected of infection with adenoviruses were tested and the presence of poultry adenoviruses was found in 86 studied herds which were about 57,71% of examined flocks. Thirty-eight (44.18%) strains were connected with the infection of inclusion body hepatitis, 11 (12.79%) strains were isolated from digestive system dysfunction, 33 (38.37%) strains had been obtained from the flocks with no symptomatic changes/behaviour, and four (4.65%) strains were obtained from flocks with the manifestation of depression. Sequencing analysis was based on Loop L1 region of the HVR1-4 fragment of the hexon gene. The adenovirus strains were classified into five species FAdV-A-E, belonging to the following eight serotypes: FAdV-1/A, FAdV-5/B, FAdV-3/10/C, FAdV-9/11/D, and FAdV-7/8a/E. The most common serotype in poultry turned out to be type/species FAdV-11/D, FAdV-5/B, and FAdV-7/8b/E while the least frequent was type/species FAdV-3/10/C (only four and two strains respectively of this types were isolated with the following range: FAdV-1/A 6 (6.97%), FAdV-5/B 24 (27,90%), FAdV-3/C 4 (4,65%), FAdV-10/C 2 (2,32%), FAdV-11/D 36 (41,86%), and FAdV-E 14 (16.27%). The understanding of genetic diversity, geographic distribution, and antigenic properties of fowl adenovirus strains (FAdVs) isolated in Poland have been evaluated.

First Detection and Identification of FAdV-8b as the Causative Agent of an Outbreak of Inclusion Body Hepatitis in a Commercial Broiler Farm in Greece

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is an economically important disease of chickens, with a worldwide distribution, caused by Fowl Aviadenoviruses (FAdVs). Currently, the increased number of cases, the virulence of the isolate strains, as well as the lack of cross-species protection highlight that detailed in-field data are fundamental for the development of successful control strategies. This case report provides a detailed clinicopathological investigation of an unusual IBH outbreak in a commercial broiler farm in the region of Macedonia, Greece. The farm consisted of 64,000 birds, originated from the same breeder stock and placed in three different houses (Flock A–C). At 20 days of age, a sudden increase in daily mortality was recorded in Flock A. It is worth mentioning that, although all flocks were serologically (indirect ELISA) and molecularly (RT-PCR) positive for FAdV, the mortality rate, attributed to IBH, was much higher in Flock A compared to others. The clinical manifestation included non-specific symptoms such as depression, inappetence, yellowish mucoid diarrhea, and lack of uniformity. At necropsy, typically, enlarged, pale, and friable livers were dominant, while sporadically lesions were recorded in the pancreas, kidneys, skeletal muscles, and lymphoid organs. The histopathological examination of liver samples showed multifocal inflammation, necrosis, and the presence of basophilic/ eosinophilic inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. In addition, the loss of the architecture of pancreatic lobules and the presence of fibrosis and foci of mononuclear cell aggregates were suggestive of chronic pancreatic inflammation. PCR analysis confirmed the presence of FAdV, belonging to species E, serotype FAdV-8b. Performance and financial calculations revealed that IBH increased Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), feed cost/chick as well as feed cost/kg live weight, whereas the Livability (%) and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) were decreased in the most severely affected flocks (Flock A). This study is the first report of the detection and identification of FAdV serotypes associated with IBH in commercial broiler flocks in Greece. However, there is still a lack of information about the circulating FAdV serotypes in the country, and therefore epidemiological studies are needed to establish control strategies for IBH.

A 10-Year Retrospective Study of Inclusion Body Hepatitis in Meat-Type Chickens in Spain (2011-2021)

A surge in fowl adenovirus (FAdV) causing inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) outbreaks has occurred in several countries in the last two decades. In Spain, a sharp increase in case numbers in broilers and broiler breeder pullets arose since 2011, which prompted the vaccination of breeders in some regions. Our retrospective study of IBH cases in Spain from 2011 to 2021 revealed that most cases were reported in broilers (92.21%) and were caused by serotypes FAdV-8b and -11, while cases in broiler breeder pullets were caused by serotypes FAdV-2, -11, and -8b. Vertical transmission was the main route of infection, although horizontal transmission likely happened in some broiler cases. Despite the inconsistent and heterogeneous use of vaccines among regions and over time, the number of cases mirrored the use of vaccines in the country. While IBH outbreaks were recorded year-long, significantly more cases occurred during the cooler and rainier months. The geographic distribution suggested a widespread incidence of IBH and revealed the importance of a highly integrated system. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of FAdV infection dynamics under field conditions and reiterate the importance of surveillance, serological monitoring of breeders, and vaccination of breeders against circulating serotypes to protect progenies.