FREQUÊNCIA DE ANTICORPOS CONTRA METAPNEUMOVÍRUS AVIÁRIO EM CRIAÇÕES INDUSTRIAIS E DE GALINHAS DE QUINTAL NO POLO AVÍCOLA DA BAHIA

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the frequency of antibodies against avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) in unvaccinated broilers and backyard chicken reared in the Poultry Production pole of Bahia, Brazil. A total of 622 and 268 serum samples of broilers and backyard chickens were collected, respectively. Serology was carried out using indirect ELISA and statistical analysis was performed using Student T, with confidence interval of 95%. Seropositive poultry were detected in 144 broilers (23.15%) and in 187 backyard chicken (69.78%). The frequency of antibodies against AMPV was 77.14% in flocks of broilers and 94.12% in backyard chicken. In broilers group, antibodies were observed in 66.67% and 33.33% of poultry with or without respiratory signs, respectively. In backyard chicken, high frequency of the antibody was found in both poultry with symptoms (60.43%) and in the asymptomatic ones (39.57%). Results showed that broilers and backyard chicken had been infected by the virus, suggesting the presence of AMPV on the Poultry Production Pole of Bahia.

Keywords

• Avian metapneumovirus
• backyard chicken
• broilers
• indirect ELISA.