Overview of Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus (Ibv) Circulated Egyptian Strains During the Last Decade

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a rapidly evolving avian pathogen that has increasingly harmed the poultry industry globally. Over the past decade, IBV has consistently spread among chicken flocks in Egypt, leading to significant economic losses in poultry production. Multiple genotypes of IBV, specifically GI-1, GI-12, GI-13, GI-16, GI-19, and GI-23, have been reported in Egypt, each exhibiting distinct genetic and pathogenic characteristics. The virus continues to spread and evolve, where multiple IBV variants and recombination events have been described, despite different vaccination programs used in Egypt. As it is very important to explore further changes in IBV genetic structure in Egypt, this review summarizes the current understanding of IBV circulation, origin, and vaccination strategies in Egypt. We also analyzed representative strains of the Egyptian Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) from an evolutionary perspective, utilizing available data from their complete or partial S gene analysis. Additionally, we discussed the significance of surveillance programs.