New test for infectious bursal disease developed

Animal Health Scientist, Daral Jackwood, has developed a validated real-time RT-PCR (patent pending) for the rapid detection of nucleotide sequences that are unique to very virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (vvIBDV) strains affecting the poultry industry.

This new assay distinguishes vvIBDV strains from non-vvIBDV classic and variant strains.

IBDV is a highly contagious poultry disease that is causing major losses to this multibillion-dollar industry worldwide. IBDV is able to rapidly produce mutated viruses that are resistant to vaccines. The vvIBDV strain causes unusually high morbidity and mortality.

“Until now, no validated rapid assay for the detection of all known vvIBDV strains existed,” said Jackwood, who heads Ohio University’s CDA. “In countries with vvIBDV, this assay is necessary for the effective monitoring and control of this devastating disease. In countries without the virus, the assay would be a first line of defense needed to prevent vvIBDV from entering domestic poultry operations.”

Beginning with European outbreaks in the mid-1980s, vvIBDV has spread to chicken flocks on nearly every continent of the world including Europe, Asia, and South and Central America.