Molecular characterization of chicken anemia virus outbreaks in Nagpur province, India from 2012 to 2015

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) is one of the important poultry pathogen. CAV infection can cause immunosuppression, aggravation of co-infections, vaccination failures and mortality. We are reporting the CAV outbreaks from the Nagpur province of India, between the years 2012–2015. The breeds included cockerel and Black Australorp of age varying from 29 to 50 days. The mortality rate observed among poultry was from 20% to 62.5%. Clinical symptoms like anemia, subcutaneous hemorrhages, growth retardation, abnormal feathers and hind limb paralysis suggested CAV infection. Postmortem analysis showed hemorrhages in thigh muscle and atrophy of the thymus and bone marrow. Seven out of 11 samples showed positive amplification of the CAV genome upon PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of all the seven isolates based on VP1 gene nucleotide sequence suggested circulation of genotype A strains in Maharashtra. The study will help us understand the circulating genotype of CAV in India and formulate its diagnosis and vaccination. •Chicken anemia virus (CAV) isolates from Nagpur province, India.•Molecular characterization of CAV isolates.•Genotypic characterization of CAV isolates.