Molecular characterisation of IBDV isolates in Turkey revealed reassortant strains.

1. Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious viral disease of chickens caused by a virus (IBDV) which has a bi-segmented, double-stranded RNA genome. It has five viral proteins in its structure; the VP1 gene is encoded in segment B and the other four are in segment A.2. In this study, bursae of Fabricius and spleen samples taken from chickens suspected of having clinical or subclinical IBD from a total of 50 chicken flocks located in different geographical regions of Turkey were examined.3. The RT-PCR analysis of the VP2 gene showed that 30 of the 50 samples (60%) tested positive. Eight positive isolates were chosen and RT-PCR was performed to amplify the VP1 gene.4. The study showed that reassortant field strains that cause clinical or subclinical disease are currently circulating in broiler flocks across Turkey.