Avian reovirus in Italy: three episodes of abnormal losses in offspring of vaccinated broiler breeders.
Avian reovirus strikes back! Vaccine-resistant strains found in Italy, causing devastating losses in broiler flocks. Urgent need to update control strategies and unravel the evolving epidemiology of this poultry pathogen.
This study investigates three outbreaks of avian reovirus (ARV) in Italian broiler flocks, despite vaccination of breeder birds. The researchers conducted clinical, pathological, and genetic analyses, revealing that the circulating ARV strains were genetically distinct from the vaccine strains used. This suggests the emergence of vaccine-resistant ARV genotypes, which could undermine current control measures. The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive surveillance and genetic characterization of ARV to improve understanding of its epidemiology and develop more effective strategies to manage this economically significant poultry disease.