e-ISSN 2231-8542
ISSN 1511-3701
Erandi Maheshika Gunasekara, Abdullahi Abdullahi Raji, Siti Nor Azizah Mahamud, Mohd Hair Bejo, Aini Ideris and Abdul Rahman Omar
Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 47, Issue 1, February 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.47.1.12
Keywords: Clinical sign, LPAI H9N2 virus, pathogenicity, SPF chicken, viral load
Published on: 23 Febuary 2024
Infection with the low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 virus has been reported worldwide and poses a health risk to poultry as well as to global health due to its ability to re-assort with other avian influenza viruses. Besides, the silent spread of the H9N2 infection causes significant economic damage to the poultry industry. Recently, Malaysia reported major outbreaks of LPAI H9N2 in commercial layer chicken flocks. Genome sequence analysis indicated that the predominant LPAI H9N2 viruses are of the Y280/BJ94-like lineages. However, the pathogenicity of the virus has not been evaluated. This study determines the pathogenicity of LPAI H9N2 strain UPM994/2018, previously isolated from commercial layer chickens, in one-week-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. Clinical signs such as ruffled feathers, mild tracheal rales, facial edema, sero-nasal discharge, and diarrhea were observed from days 6 to 10 post-inoculation (PI). However, no mortality was recorded. Based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, the viruses can be detected in the lungs, trachea, and kidneys of the inoculated chickens on the second day, increased until day 10, then declined at day 16 PI. However, swab samples collected from the oropharyngeal and cloacal regions remain positive from day 2 to day 14 PI, with the highest viral load detected at day 10 PI. In conclusion, although the virus is an LPAI, it is pathogenic in SPF chickens, causing respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal-associated illnesses.
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ISSN 1511-3701
e-ISSN 2231-8542