First Report and Molecular Confirmation of Chicken Proventricular Necrosis Virus Associated with Transmissible Viral Proventriculitis in Bangladesh

Simple Summary

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) is an emerging disease among young chickens that causes poor growth, uneven body weight, and characteristic lesions in the proventriculus. Although TVP has been reported in several countries, information from South Asia remains scarce. In this study, two poultry flocks in Bangladesh showed growth retardation and proventricular enlargement, raising suspicion of TVP. Histopathology and molecular testing of proventricular samples from the affected birds confirmed proventriculitis and the presence of chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV), the virus most strongly associated with TVP. These findings provide the first molecular evidence of CPNV-associated TVP in Bangladesh and emphasise the need for further surveillance to better understand the distribution and impact of the disease in the region.

Abstract

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) is an emerging disease in chickens, linked to chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV), a recently identified birnavirus. Here, we provide the first molecular confirmation of TVP in Bangladesh from a coloured meat-type parent stock (PS) flock, while documenting a contemporaneous white layer flock with consistent clinical signs and characteristic gross lesions. Affected birds exhibited growth retardation, diarrhoea, and increased mortality, alongside hallmark gross changes in proventricular enlargement and wall thickening. From the meat-type PS, proventricular samples were collected for histopathology and molecular diagnostics. Histological analysis revealed severe glandular epithelial damage, necrosis, mononuclear infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, and metaplasia. Using RT-PCR on nucleic acid extracted from FTA card samples, CPNV was detected. In addition, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and avian reovirus (ARV) nucleic acids were also identified. The amplified CPNV VP1 fragment was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis placed the Bangladeshi strain within clades of previously reported CPNV isolates. This study represents the first molecularly confirmed report of CPNV associated with TVP in Bangladesh, highlighting the need for active surveillance in commercial and breeder poultry flocks to understand the virus’s epidemiology and support the development of control strategies.

1. Introduction

Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP), characterised by proventricular enlargement, ingesta retention in the lumen, and fragility of the gastric isthmus, has been recognised as a significant problem in poultry flocks worldwide since the 1970s [1]. TVP is an infectious disease characterised by poor growth, retarded feathering, diarrhoea, passing partially digested feed in the faeces, and increased mortality mostly in broilers aged 21–49 days [2,3,4,5]. The clinical picture can mimic runting stunting syndrome (RSS) [6]. Cases in broiler breeders and layer pullets have also been reported [7].

Typical macroscopic lesions are enlarged and pale or mottled grey–white proventriculi with a widened isthmus. The organ’s wall is thickened, some glands are distended, and a thick white substance can be expelled into the lumen. The mucosa can be reddened. Characteristic histopathological lesions include necrosis of the glandular epithelium accompanied by mild to severe infiltration, predominantly of lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells, as well as hyperplasia of the glandular epithelium, the formation of lymphoid nodules, and occasional fibrosis [3,5,8,9].

The disease has a profound negative economic impact on the flock production [10,11]. Researchers have attempted to identify the aetiology of TVP, and recently, a birnavirus, the chicken proventricular necrosis virus (CPNV), was proposed as the cause of TVP [1,12].

Two poultry flocks in Bangladesh—a white layer flock and a coloured meat-type PS—displayed stunted growth and proventricular lesions during on-farm examination. To clarify the underlying cause, proventricular samples were collected from the affected coloured meat-type PS and subjected to histopathological and molecular analyses, with a focus on determining the possible involvement of TVP.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Sample Collection

Suspected cases of TVP were identified in a white layer flock and in a coloured meat-type PS in Bangladesh, based on the presence of RSS-like clinical signs and gross lesions consistent with TVP, including enlarged and pale proventriculi. From the coloured meat-type PS, proventricular samples showing characteristic lesions were collected for laboratory analyses. Eight tissue specimens in a single jar were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathology, and additional samples were applied to a single FTA card from the cut surface of four affected proventricular walls for subsequent PCR-based diagnostics.

2.2. Histopathology

The eight proventricular tissue samples were initially fixed in 10% neutral buffered formaldehyde solution at room temperature. Following fixation, the samples underwent trimming and dehydration through a graded series of ethanol and xylene using an automated tissue processor. The dehydrated specimens were subsequently embedded in paraffin blocks, from which 4 µm thick sections were manually cut and mounted onto glass slides. The paraffin-embedded sections were deparaffinised and rehydrated using xylene and ethanol, respectively. Histological analysis was conducted via routine Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, as well as Masson’s trichrome staining, both of which were performed on an automated staining system. Slide digitization was performed with a Pannoramic Midi slide scanner (3D Histech LLC, Budapest, Hungary).

2.3. Molecular Detection of the Virus

The samples received on the FTA card (one card with four samples) were pooled, dissolved in sterile 1X phosphate-buffered solution (PBS), and then centrifuged for 5 min at 3000 rpm.

Viral RNA was extracted from 200 µL samples using the MagCore^® Plus II automated nucleic acid extraction machine (RBC Bioscience, New Taipei City, Taiwan) and the MagCore^® Viral Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit 202 (RBC Bioscience) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The RNA samples were stored at −80 °C until further analysis.

The samples were analysed by RT-PCR to detect the VP1 gene of CPNV, as described by GUY et al. in 2011 [12]. The tests were run on a QIAamplifier 96 instrument (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) using the OneStep RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen) and specific primers (Forward: B2F 5′-CGTAGACCTCGTCCTTCTGC-3′; Reverse: B2R 5′-GGGCGGTAACCATTCAGATA-3). The temperature profile for the reaction was as follows: reverse transcription was 50 °C for 30 min, 95 °C for 15 min, followed by 45 cycles of 95 °C for 30 s, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min, with a final extension at 72 °C for 10 min. We also screened for potential coinfections, including infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) [13], infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) [14], avian reovirus (ARV) [15], and fowl adenovirus (FAdV) [16], using conventional PCR and RT–PCR.

The PCR products were visualised by agarose gel electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis was performed on a 1.8% TopVision Agarose gel (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Vilnius, Lithuania) at 120 V for an average of 30 min. The PCR products were detected with the DuoVIEW Transilluminator gel documentation system (Cleaver Scientific Ltd., Rugby, UK).

Appropriate negative controls (no-template controls) were included in each RT-PCR and PCR run to monitor potential contamination.

2.4. Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis

Amplicons of appropriate size were manually excised with a sterile scalpel, and the purification process was performed using the QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Capillary electrophoresis was performed at a commercial service provider (Eurofins BIOMI Kft., Gödöllő, Hungary).

Chromas 2.6.6 software (Technelysium Pty Ltd., South Brisbane, Australia) was used to visualise the chromatograms, and the sequences were proofread. The forward and reverse sequences were assembled using the MAFFT version 7 online software, applying the E-INS-I method.

For the phylogenetic analysis, 34 reference CPNV VP1 gene sequences were downloaded from GenBank. Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis was conducted using the MEGAX software version 10.0.5 [17], and a bootstrap analysis with 1000 repetitions was performed to test the support for the branches of the phylogenetic tree.

3. Results

3.1. Clinical Signs and Necropsy Results

3.1.1. White Layer Flock Case

In a floor-reared white layer flock at 5 weeks of age, affected birds exhibited poor growth and intermittent huddling, accompanied by an increase in mortality. Necropsy of clinically impacted birds revealed lesions characteristic of TVP, including proventricular enlargement and pallor (Figure 1A), thickening of the proventricular wall (Figure 1B), and mucosal congestion and haemorrhages (Figure 1C). Mild enteritis and the presence of incompletely digested feed in the faeces were also observed.

3.1.2. Coloured Meat-Type Parent Stock Case

An outbreak consistent with TVP occurred in a flock of approximately 11,000 coloured meat-type PS kept on a floor system at 5 weeks of age. More than 300 birds displayed clinical signs, including growth retardation, abnormal feathering, and diarrhoea containing undigested feed. The gross lesions closely aligned with the changes observed in the white layer flock, with marked proventricular enlargement and pallor (Figure 2A), thickening of the proventricular wall (Figure 2B), and, in some cases, mucosal congestion and haemorrhages (Figure 2C). Mild enteritis and undigested feed within the large intestines were also recorded.

3.2. Histology Results

Most proventricular glands exhibited lesions consistent with chronic TVP, including ductal epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial metaplasia, and mild multifocal, lymphocytic infiltration (Figure 3A). Masson’s trichrome staining confirmed interstitial fibrosis (Figure 4). In addition, acute lesions characterised by glandular epithelial degeneration and necrosis with diffuse lymphocytic infiltration were present in some areas (Figure 3B).

3.3. PCR Results

Proventricular samples applied to an FTA card were pooled and subjected to molecular screening. Reverse-transcription PCR was employed to detect the CPNV, IBV, IBDV, and ARV genomes, whereas conventional PCR was used to assess the presence of FAdV. The pooled sample tested positive for CPNV, IBV, IBDV, and ARV, while no amplification indicative of FAdV was observed.

3.4. Phylogenetic Analysis

We sequenced the partial VP1 fragment (171 nt) of CPNV detected in the pooled sample and uploaded it to GenBank (accession number: PP957463). Partial VP1 sequences were downloaded from GenBank and compared with each other and with the sequence originating from Bangladesh. Pairwise nucleotide identity values ranged from 63.29 to 92.40%, with the highest similarity observed between the Bangladesh strain and the USA sequence (HM038436). Alignment of the corresponding amino acid sequences revealed eight characteristic amino acid substitutions across the examined fragment. Starting from the first codon of the sequence, these mutations are: P14S, G17A, T18I, Q21H, K22L, E37V, G38H, and Q/S42L.

A phylogenetic tree was constructed using a set of reference VP1 sequences (Figure 5). The phylogenetic analysis placed our sequence within the same cluster as the HM038436 strain from the USA and the MT036105 strain from the UK. This subgroup branched separately but clustered with strains from Israel and showed a relatively close relationship to sequences from Spain. The other CPNV sequences collected in the UK formed distinct clusters with strong bootstrap support, indicating genetic heterogeneity among the available sequences.

4. Discussion

This study documents the first confirmed detection of CPNV in association with TVP in Bangladesh. Molecular confirmation was obtained from the meat-type parent stock flock, while the white layer flock was documented based on consistent clinical signs and characteristic gross lesions. The investigation was conducted as a field-based diagnostic case study during routine on-farm examinations; therefore, samples from clinically healthy control birds were not available for comparison. TVP has been reported in multiple poultry-producing regions worldwide [4,8,9,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27]; however, reports from South Asia remain scarce, and its occurrence is likely underrecognized. The clinical signs observed in both affected flocks—including growth retardation, poor feathering, and diarrhoea—were consistent with previous descriptions of TVP in commercial poultry [2,3,4,5,6,11]. Likewise, the gross lesions, particularly proventricular enlargement, pallor, and mucosal congestion, corresponded well with the characteristic pathological changes reported in earlier cases [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11].

Histopathological evaluation of proventricular tissues further supported a diagnosis of TVP [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11]. The lesions observed in this study, including glandular epithelial degeneration and necrosis, mononuclear infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, metaplasia, and varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis, align closely with the classical microscopic features described in experimental infections with TVP-affected proventricular homogenates [2,4,10,28] and CPNV [29]. The concurrent presence of both acute and chronic lesions suggests that the infection in the flock may have persisted or occurred in multiple waves.

Molecular analysis identified CPNV in the sampled proventricular tissue, suggesting its etiological association with the observed lesions. The use of a single pooled sample precludes the assessment of within-flock variability and limits the ability to associate individual histopathological lesions with specific viral agents. Additional viral nucleic acids, including those of IBV, IBDV, and ARV, were also identified by RT-PCR. However, the flock had been vaccinated with live vaccines against IBDV (hatchery-administered immune complex vaccine; GUMBOHATCH), IBV (administered at the hatchery and again at 4 days of age on the farm; Nobilis 4/91), and ARV (administered at 9 days of age; Nobilis Reo 1133) prior to sampling. Because no sequencing or strain-specific assays were performed for IBV, IBDV, or ARV, vaccine-derived and field strains could not be distinguished. Therefore, the detected viral genomes may represent residual vaccine strains rather than active field infections, and the potential synergistic or contributory role of these viruses in the observed clinical signs, lesion severity, or mortality cannot be reliably assessed in this outbreak. Nevertheless, the presence of CPNV in the pooled proventricular sample, in conjunction with characteristic gross and histopathological lesions, supports its etiological association with transmissible viral proventriculitis in this outbreak.

The majority of available CPNV sequences correspond to the same 171 nt long VP1 fragment. Full-length VP1 or complete CPNV genome sequences are currently scarce in public databases, which limits the strength and reliability of comparative genetic analyses. Because the phylogenetic analysis was based on a short (171 nt) VP1 fragment, the inferred evolutionary and epidemiological relationships should be interpreted with caution, as such analyses inherently provide limited phylogenetic resolution. In our study, the strain from Bangladesh clustered with strains from the USA and the UK, forming a tentative subgroup that branched separately yet remained closely related to sequences from Israel and Spain. This may suggest that related CPNV lineages are present across geographically distant regions, although this interpretation is constrained by the limited sequence length analysed. In contrast, most UK sequences formed distinct clusters that reflect their collection dates, suggesting the possible co-circulation of multiple lineages over time within a single country. Pairwise nucleotide identity among all sequences further supports the virus’s moderate genetic diversity. Eight characteristic amino acid substitutions were detected in our strain. Our results provide an initial overview of CPNV genetic relationships, but future studies employing complete VP1 or full genome sequences are needed to achieve a more accurate and higher-confidence understanding of viral evolution and epidemiological patterns.

The emergence of TVP in Bangladesh carries practical implications for poultry health management. As the poultry sector expands, early recognition of underdiagnosed conditions such as TVP becomes increasingly important. The clinical presentation of TVP can mimic RSS and other causes of poor growth, leading to misdiagnosis and suboptimal control measures. Routine inclusion of proventricular examination during necropsy, supported by histopathology and targeted molecular testing, may improve diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, enhanced surveillance is warranted to clarify the prevalence and epidemiological patterns of CPNV in the region, not only in broiler operations—where TVP is most frequently reported—but also in layer and parent stock flocks.

These observations should be interpreted within the context of a diagnostic case report and do not allow inference on transmission dynamics or broader epidemiological patterns of CPNV in Bangladesh.

5. Conclusions

In conclusion, the present study provides the first evidence of CPNV-associated TVP in Bangladesh. The combined gross, histopathological, and molecular findings support the involvement of CPNV as a relevant pathogen in cases of growth retardation and proventricular pathology. Future studies should aim to clarify transmission dynamics, evaluate potential production impacts, and explore effective prevention strategies to mitigate the disease burden in regional poultry farms.