Detection and characterization of group A and D avian rotaviruses in India

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the association of rotaviruses with diarrhea in poultry. Avian rotaviruses were detected on the basis of migration pattern of discrete 11 segments of dsRNA in the RNA-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE). The prevalence of rotavirus infection in diarrhoeic (n=46) and environmental (n=31) samples was 17.39% (8/46) and 3.22% (1/31), respectively. Electrophoretic migration pattern characteristic of group A (5:1:3:2) and group D (5:2:2:2) avian rotaviruses was observed. Overall the prevalence of group D avian rotavirus was higher (77.8%; 7/9) than group A rotavirus (22.22%; 2/9) in central India. Occurrence of different electrophoretic migration patterns suggested existence and circulation of genetically diverse strains of avian rotaviruses. This study establishes the presence of group D avian rotavirus in India and need for expansion of such work to cover more geographical areas.