DATI EPIDEMIOLOGICI SULLA CIRCOLAZIONE IN ITALIA DEL NUOVO GENOTIPO IBDV ITA

Significant economic losses can affect the poultry industry due to the consequences of immunosuppression induced by viral infections. This study reports the results of a survey, conducted in 2012-2014 on 59 farms located in Northern and Central Italy, aimed to investigate the diffusion of the new genotipe ITA of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) recently detected in Italy. All ß ocks, out of one, were vaccinated for IBD. Seventeen longitudinal studies and 42 “one off” sampling performed during routine diagnostic activity for IBD, were performed. Samples of the Bursa of Fabricius were collected for virus detection by a RT-PCR protocol designed in the hypervariable region of the VP2, from 10 birds per ß ock, at different time of life. The RT-PCR products were sequenced and the sequences aligned with the available database logged omologous sequences. The IBDV strain ITA was the most detected genotype, being found in 31 out of 59 farms. The actual pathogenicity of the IBDV ITA strain, as well as the degree of protection offered by common vaccination schedules, will be further investigated