Examination of macroscopic and microscopic lesions in IBDV-infected organs and molecular characterization of IBDV VP1 gene fragments obtained from commercial broiler farms in Indonesia

Background and Aim: Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an infectious immunosuppressive disease that affects young
chickens. Instead of strict biosecurity practices, vaccination is used to control IBD. However, the disease has not been effectively managed. Variations in the observed clinical symptoms lead to confounding diagnoses. The study aimed to obtain pathological lesion data from chickens suspected of IBD virus (IBDV) infection by gross pathology, confirm IBDV infection through molecular diagnostics, and genotype the VP1 gene fragments of circulating IBDV in the field.
Materials and Methods: The bursa of Fabricius, thymus, spleen, proventricular–ventricular junction, thigh muscles,
and kidneys samples were collected from chickens suspected of IBDV infection from four commercial broiler farms in
Central Java and The Yogyakarta Special Region Province between 2021 and 2022. The collected samples were examined
histopathologically. Infectious bursal disease virus RNA was extracted from the bursa of Fabricius and VP1 gene was
identified by reverse-transcriptase polimerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The RT-PCR positive sample were sequenced and analyzed in Mega X for homology search and phylogenetic tree analysis.
Results: Macroscopic pathological lesions in the bursa of Fabricius were demonstrated by enlarged edema and thickened
plica, presence of gelatinous exudate, hemorrhage, atrophy, and caseous exudate in the lumen. Moreover, the thymus had
atrophy and small gray foci were observed in the spleen. Petechiae or hemorrhage was detected on the thigh muscle, and the kidney was dull and pale. Hemorrhage in the proventricular–ventricular junction was distinct. The histopathological examination of the bursa of Fabricius showed follicular vacuolization, edema, heterophilic infiltration, follicular atrophy, congestion, and hemorrhage. The thymus and spleen showed the presence of multifocal necrosis. Hemorrhage was observed
in thigh muscle and mucosal part of proventricular–ventricular junction. Vacuolization was seen in renal tubules (nephrosis). Reverse transcriptase-PCR of 26 bursa of Fabricius samples from chickens suspected of IBDV infection showed four negative and 22 positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene fragment has indicated very virulent IBD (vvIBD) and belonged to B2 genotype.
Conclusion: Infectious bursal diseases virus infection in broiler chicken generated macroscopic and microscopic primary lesions in the bursa of Fabricius and thigh muscle. Other organs such as the spleen, thymus, proventricular–ventricular junction, and kidney, were also involved. Molecular analysis of the VP1 gene confirmed the causative agent and grouped the virus into vvIBD and B2 genotype. All samples were collected from vaccinated birds therefore, the efficacy of available vaccine is required for urgent evaluation. Since most studies only focused on VP1, further exploration on VP2 gene is suggested notably
for new-generation vaccines. Monitoring clinical signs’ transformation over time could assist field diagnostics.