DETECTION OF AVIAN ROTAVIRUS USING THE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION (RT)-PCR AND RNA-PAGE IN DIARRHOEIC POULTRY FROM KERALA, INDIA

Rotavirus is one of the most common viral causes of diarrhoea in poultry causing significant economic losses. Hence a study was undertaken to detect the presence of rotavirus in faecal samples by RT-PCR and the RNA profile of the virus was analysed by PAGE for subsequent grouping. One hundred and forty three faecal samples of poultry having diarrhoea were collected from University poultry and duck farm, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy and various regional poultry farms in Kerala. All the samples were screened for the presence of avian rotavirus by RT-PCR and RNA-PAGE. Among the 143 samples, 5 (3.49 per cent) were found to be positive by RNA-PAGE. The 11 segments of the rota viral genome was observed and showed a migration pattern of 4:2:3:2 which was typical for mammalian like group A rotavirus. Eleven samples (7.69 per cent) were detected positive in RT-PCR and was found to be more sensitive in detecting avian rotavirus than RNA-PAGE