Avian orthoreovirus

Avian orthoreovirus, also known as Avian Reovirus, is an orthoreovirus from the Reoviridae family. Infection causes arthritis and tenosynovitis in poultry. It can also cause respiratory disease.

Introduction

Avian orthoreovirus infection is more common in young birds, because resistance begins to develop from as young as two weeks of age. It is also reportedly more common in broilers. Distribution of avian orthoreovirus is worldwide and it is present in most poutry flocks. It can be transmitted horizontally via the faeces or rarely, vertically. It is not a zoonosis.

Clinical Signs and Diagnosis

The most common clinical sign is lameness. There may also be swelling or bleeding around the joints. Gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological signs have also been reported.

Presumptive diagnoses may be made based on the observation of clinical signs. They can be confirmed using virus isolation, complement fixation, ELISA, immunodiffusion or histopathology (following postmortem exam).

See also

• Avian Reovirus

References

• Avian Orthoreovirus, reviewed and published by WikiVet at http://en.wikivet.net/Avian_Orthoreovirus, accessed 15/08/2011.