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Dogs as potential carriers of infectious bursal disease virus

Abstract:

In this study, the possibility that dogs could eventually be carriers of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) after having eaten (voluntarily or accidentally) IBDV-infected chicks has been evaluated. A single Beagle dog was fed chicks infected by a very virulent IBDV strain (vvIBDV). Afterwards, the presence and viability of IBDV in the faeces was assessed. Viable vvIBDV was detected in the dog's faeces for 2 days after the initial ingestion, which indicates excretion of vvIBDV. Comparison by molecular techniques of the administered and excreted virus using reverse transcription-polymerase Chain reaction and enzymatic digestion confirmed that the initial virus maintained the same characteristics after being excreted. We believe that this study could be of great interest for a better understanding of the epidemiology of IBD disease on farms where dogs live close to avian facilities.