Animal Health Scientist, Daral Jackwood, has developed a validated
real-time RT-PCR (patent pending) for the rapid detection of nucleotide
sequences that are unique to very virulent Infectious
Bursal Disease Virus (vvIBDV) strains affecting the poultry industry.
This new assay distinguishes vvIBDV strains from non-vvIBDV classic and
variant strains.
IBDV is a highly contagious poultry disease that is causing major losses to
this multibillion-dollar industry worldwide. IBDV is able to rapidly produce
mutated viruses that are resistant to vaccines. The vvIBDV strain causes
unusually high morbidity and mortality.
"Until now, no validated rapid assay for the detection of all known vvIBDV
strains existed," said Jackwood, who heads Ohio University's CDA. "In countries with vvIBDV, this assay
is necessary for the effective monitoring and control of this devastating
disease. In countries without the virus, the assay would be a first line of
defense needed to prevent vvIBDV from entering domestic poultry operations."
Beginning with European outbreaks in the mid-1980s, vvIBDV has spread to
chicken flocks on nearly every continent of the world including Europe, Asia,
and South and Central America.
