Avian infectious bronchitis detection in broiler-chickens in Babylon Province

Avian infectious bronchitis (AIB) causes economic losses in many flocks of poultry; the causative agent is the avian coronavirus which belongs to coronaviridae that causes multiple diseases in humans and animals. AIB is one of the main causes of economic harm; it causes respiratory disease, lesions, as well as a decline in egg production with deformity. Infectious bronchitis virus IBV has many serotypes without creating cross-protection against each other. This study aimed to detect IBV infection in broiler flocks in Babylon province depending on the clinical symptoms, postmortem lesions, IBV Rapid kit, and real-time polymerase chain reaction rt-PCR. Fifty broiler flocks were shown respiratory signs, a rapid examination was performed using the IBV Rapid kit, 13 flocks revealed positive results, Samples were collected from the trachea and the kidney for RNA extract then complementary DNA cDNA synthesis, the result-product entered a real-time PCR with XCE2+ and XCE2- Primers, only 7 samples showed positive results.