Virome of broiler chickens in conventional production

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Virom tovnih pilića u konvencionalnoj proizvodnji
• Author: Eunhee Lee
• Mentor: Željko Gottstein (mentor)
• Committee member: Liča Lozica (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Maja Lukač (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Željko Gottstein (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Dražen Đuričić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Abstract

Broiler chickens play a vital role in global food security, particularly in meat production. The
complex gastrointestinal microbiome in chickens is crucial for overall health, affecting metabolism
and immunity, however, the impact of viral infections remains insufficiently studied. This study
investigates the virome of 5 and 25 days old broilers from two farms, utilizing the PathoSense
diagnostic tool and platform to identify and quantify viral loads using nanopore sequencing
methodology. At 5 days of age, only Astrovirus was identified in both farms. In contrast, at 25
days, on Farm 1 three viruses were identified, Astrovirus, avian Orthoreovirus and infectious
bronchitis virus, while on Farm 2 five viruses were revealed, Astrovirus, chicken Calicivirus,
Gallivirus, Sicinivirus and infectious bronchitis virus. These findings suggest an early and
intensive infection via vertical transmission and later horizontal spread and viral diversification.
The compromise of the immunity at an early age could facilitate viral spread and diversification.
This study highlights the necessity for enhanced biosecurity measures and targeted interventions
in poultry management, from parent flocks, hatcheries to production farms, and the used simple
and rapid method could be a good bioindicator for improvement of flock health and mitigation of
the economic impacts of viral diseases.

Abstract (croatian)

Tovni pilići igraju važnu ulogu u globalnoj sigurnosti hrane, posebice u proizvodnji mesa. Složeni
gastrointestinalni mikrobiom kod pilića ključan je za cjelokupno zdravlje, djelujući na
metabolizam i imunitet, no utjecaj virusnih infekcija ostaje nedovoljno istražen. Ovaj rad analizira
virom tovnih pilića dobi 5 i 25 dana na dvije farme, koristeći PathoSense dijagnostički kit i
platformu za dokaz i kvantifikaciju virusa sekvenciranjem nanopore postupkom. U dobi od 5 dana
identificiran je samo Astrovirus na obje farme. Nasuprot tome, nakon 25 dana, na Farmi 1
identificirano je tri skupine virusa, Astrovirus, ptičji Orthoreovirus i virus zaraznog bronhitisa, dok
je na Farmi 2 utvrđeno pet skupina virusa, Astrovirus, kokošji Calicivirus, Gallivirus, Sicinivirus
i virus zaraznog bronhitisa. Ovi nalazi upućuju na ranu i intenzivnu infekciju vertikalnim
prijenosom, uz kasnije horizontalno širenje i diverzifikaciju virusa. Slabljenje imuniteta u ranoj
dobi, djelovanjem niza čimbenika, moglo bi olakšati širenje i diverzifikaciju virusa. Ovo
istraživanje naglašava nužnost pojačanih biosigurnosnih mjera i ciljanih intervencija u kontroli
zdravlja peradi, od roditeljskih jata, valionica do proizvodnih farmi, a korištena jednostavna i brza
metoda mogla bi biti dobar bioindikator za poboljšanje zdravlja jata i ublažavanje ekonomskih
gubitaka djelovanjem virusnih bolesti.

• Keywords: broiler chickens; intestinal virome; nanopore sequencing; PathoSense
• Keywords (croatian): tovni pilići; crijevni virom; nanopore sekvenciranje; PathoSense
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:084123
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-11-04 09:04:50