A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used
to detect infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in the commercial broiler flocks in
Syria. 50 tissue samples were taken from tracheal tissue, trachea and kidney of
the broil
ers suspected of infectious bronchitis (IB) from different governorates
of Syria i.e. Latakia, Tartous, Hama and Damascus countryside. RNA was
extracted directly from the tissue samples and then RNA was converted to cDNA
by RT-PCR technology; PCR reaction and Nested PCR interaction were carried
out sequentially. The primers used in the RT-PCR reaction were selected from
the S1 gene (spike), where mutations of the virus genome were concentrated in
this region (the hypervariable region). Some positive samples (10) were injected
at an age of 9-11 days old SPFEE-specific pathogen free embryonated eggs
according to the methods adopted in virology. This research was carried out at
the laboratories of Latakia Research Center, General Commission for Scientific
Agricultural Research GCSAR, in cooperation with the PCR laboratory at the
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Hama. The results showed the existence of 37
positive case for RT-PCR (74%), and the infectious embryos showed clear and
characteristic anatomical lesions of the infectious bronchitis virus after 5-6 days
post injection, delayed and undeveloped fetal (dwarfism), fingertip entanglement
and hemorrhage compared with the negative control. The results also showed the
sensitivity and speed of the RT-PCR test in the detection of the IBV virus.
