Abstract
Background: Avian reovirus (ARV) affects nearly all domestic poultry species and commonly associated with severe viral arthritis. This predisposes the birds to other viral and bacterial infections such as Marek’s disease (MD), and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). Approximately 25% of gamefowls with swollen shanks, exudation on the keel bone, and nasal discharge were reported by the farm. Hence, this paper aims to describe the
clinical presentation of a gamefowl flock infected with ARV, MD, and M. synoviae. Methods: Blood and organ samples were collected from ten (10) morbid birds for serology, histopathology and qPCR to confirm the diagnosis. Results: Necropsy
findings showed lesions in the tarsometatarsal, keel, and tracheal regions. Serum samples tested positive for ARV and MS antibodies using ELISA. Real-time RT-PCR detected ARV RNA, while PCR detected MDV DNA in the pooled tissue samples.
Follow-up necropsy, conventional PCR, and phylogenetic analysis were also conducted postvaccination. Phylogenetic analysis classified the MD-positive samples as Gallid alphaherpesvirus type 2 and suggested a possible association with VV+ strains. Conclusion: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first documented
case of ARV with co-infection with MS and MD in gamefowls in the Philippines.
Keywords: Avian reovirus, Marek’s disease, Mycoplasma synoviae, Gamefowls