Detecção do TAstV-2 (Turkey astrovirus type 2) em perus(Meleagris gallopavo)

by Lemos da, Sérgio Eustáquio

The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of turkey astrovirus(TAstV) capsid and polymerase gene was applied in the bursa of Fabricius (BF),thymus (TH), spleen (SP) and cloacal swabs (CS) from young poults with PEMS(Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome). The histological lesions were atrophy,lymphoid depletion, cellular infiltration and necrosis of BF, TH and SP,respectively. The RT-PCR reactions were positive in all of 100 CS, 7 out of 10 ofBF, 10 out of 20 TH and SP, respectively, for the polymerase gene of TAstV-2.Five out of 10 TH and SP samples, considered as negative by RT-PCR, werepositive when specific primers designed to the TAstV-2 capsid gene were applied.Finally, this is the first description of turkey astrovirus infection presenting PEMS inLatin America.