Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV)

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), formerly known as avian rhinotracheitis virus, is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen belonging to the Pneumoviridae family that primarily affects turkeys and chickens. The virus causes acute upper respiratory tract infections, such as turkey rhinotracheitis and swollen head syndrome, characterized by sinusitis, nasal discharge, and periorbital edema. It also impacts the reproductive tract, leading to significant drops in egg production and quality in breeding birds. While the virus itself is the causative agent of disease, its specific surface proteins, such as the fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins, serve as the primary targets for vaccine development and diagnostic assays. Management of the virus relies heavily on biosecurity measures and the use of live attenuated or inactivated vaccines to prevent outbreaks and mitigate economic losses in the poultry industry.

Other names

Turkey rhinotracheitis virusAvian pneumovirusSwollen head syndrome virusAvian rhinotracheitis virusARTVTRTVAPV

Prevention of viral infection and replication through the induction of neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity; experimental RNA interference (siRNA) targets viral nucleoprotein (N) or fusion (F) genes to inhibit replication.