SWOLLEN HEAD SYNDROME,

TURKEY RHINOTRACHEITIS,
AVIAN PNEUMOVIRUS
Microbiology & Immunology Team
Veterinary Medicine Faculty
UB
 INTRODUCTION

First described by Morley & Thomson in 1984,

who attributed the disease to a mixed infection
with Escherichia coli
 INTRODUCTION

• An acute respiratory tract viral disease in poultry (chicken &

turkey) of all ages
• Caused by an avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV) of the
Paramyxoviridae
• Immunosupression (following NDV-IBV vaccination) --- 2nd
infection-usually by E. coli
• First isolated from poultries in South Africa in 1978
 ETIOLOGY
• Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV)
• ssRNA
• Family Paramyxoviridae
• Subfamily Pneumovirinae
• Genus:
• Genus Pneumovirus
Human & Bovine respiratory syncytial virus
• Genus Metapneumovirus
aMPV & hMPV
• Helical capsid symmetry
• Non-hemagglutinating virus
• Non-segmented
 ETIOLOGY
• aMPV highly contagious
• aMPV are grouped into 4 subtypes A-D, base on the
attachment glycoprotein ( G-protein) sequence.
G protein sequence can be used to subtyping of different
strains.
• Base on the phylogenetic analysis of F protein sequence
suggested:
• Eurepean subtype A, B, D more closely related to each other
to subtype C
• Subtype C isolates were also identified in pheasants in Korea
Subtype C have higher amino acid sequence homology to
hMPV than to European aMPV (A, B, D).
 TRANSMISSION & EPIDEMIOLOGY

• The spread of aMPV depend on the poultry population

density, standard hygiene, and biosecurity.
• Very contagious ----- rapidly spread horizontally by direct
contact, contact with contaminated material
• Lateral transmission --- respiratory route
aMPV affect mainly ciliated epithelial cells of upper
respiratory tract ---- transmission most likely to be airborne,
especially via aerosol.
 TRANSMISSION & EPIDEMIOLOGY

• Fomites can be important in moving between farms

• Mechanical route: feed, water, equipment
• Vertical transmission (rare):
Ciliated cells & macrophage of the reproductive tract also
infected by aMPV
aMPV subtype C was isolated from eggs of experimentally
infected SPF turkeys
 CLINICAL SIGNS

• aMPV induces an acute, highly contagious infection of the

upper respiratory tract of turkeys and chickens.
• Affected all age groups. Younger more susceptible
• Incubation period is 3-7 days
• Morbidity 10-100%
• Mortality 1-30%
Without secondary infection --- recover within 7-10 days.
 SIGNS

• In chicken is associated with head swollen. Characterized by

swelling of the peri and infraorbital sinuses, froth eyes, nasal
discharge, torticollis.
• Opisthotonus due to ear infection.
• In laying hens characteristic with drop in egg production & egg
quality
The pneumovirus is present in respiratory secretion and discharge
---- survive for a long time in cold and wet environment
E. coli follows the aMPV infection of the upper respiratory tract
Triggered inflammatory response ---- accumulation of exudate in
the subcutaneous tissue
Later stage ---- a croupous pneumoniae
 SIGNS

SHS : all age and is generally seen after the 4 th week of life
1st clinical signs: sneezing, coughing, rales & conjunctivitis
A profuse tear secretion, reddened conjunctiva and a
characteristic oblong almond¬like shape of eyes are observed.
The inflammatory exudate is initially transparent, but afterwards
becomes opaque.
 SIGNS

• Decreased appetite, weight gain & feed efficiency

• Facial & head swelling (can occur in other condition)
• Loss of voice
• Ocular & nasal discharge
• Conjunctivitis
• Snick
• Dyspnoea
• sinusitis
• Macroscopic lesion
reddened conjunctiva

A profuse tear secretion

 almond¬like shape of eyes

Edema subcutaneous in the head

area, involving periorbital uni or
bilateral sinuses
Unilateral or bilateral swellings of the head,
affecting the periorbital sinuses, the
mandi¬bular space and the wattles
opisthotonus, torticolis, due to
inflammatory processes in pneumatic skull
bones and the middle ear.
Pus in skull bones. This is a common sequel
to avian pneumovirus infection in both
chickens and turkeys.
 POST MORTEM LESION

Serous rhinitis & tracheitis, sometimes pus in bronchi.

Secondary invasion by E. coli --- pneumonitis, airsacculitis,
perihepatitis
Congestion, edema and pus in the air space of skull occurs in a
proportion of affected animals due to 2 nd bacterial infection
Serofibrinous exudates
serofibrinous exudate
sero¬fibrinous oophoritis), resulting in
reduced egg production
Subcutaneous mucinous oedema (e) in
the region of the head
Haemorrhages and inflammatory Massive haemorrhages and
necrotic lesions affecting the inflammation of nasal conchas
pneumatized skull bones
 DIAGNOSIS

Clinical signs
Serology: ELISA for A & B challenge viruses
PCR
Virus isolation from trachea, lung or nasal exudate in
embryonating turkey eggs, chicken organ culture
Isolation of ciliostatic agent
DD: infectious bronchitis, Lentogenic NDV
 PREVENTION

All-in/all-out production
Vaccination
oLive vaccine
oInactivated vaccine
TREATMENT

Biosecurity
Multivitamins
THANK YOU