Astrovirus
This invention relates to the isolation and uses of novel avian astroviruses. The present invention also relates to vaccines, kits and methods for detection of a novel astrovirus. The present invention further relates to vaccination of avians, prevention and/or treatment of avian infections associated with astrovirus. Infections of poultry by this novel astrovirus are associated with runt stunting syndromes.
1. An isolated astrovirus serotype, designated AVS-1, comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, a sample of which is deposited at the ATCC under accession number PTA-9298.
2. A vaccine for protecting poultry against a disease condition resulting from an avian astrovirus infection, comprising, an inactivated form of the astrovirus isolate, designated AVS-1, comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, a sample of which is deposited at the ATCC under accession number PTA-9298, and, optionally, an adjuvant.
3. The vaccine of claim 2 , wherein the vaccine further comprises one or more vaccine components against a second pathogen infectious to poultry.
4. The vaccine of claim 2 , wherein the disease condition is runt stunting syndrome or avian malabsorption syndrome (MAS).
5. The vaccine of claim 2 , wherein the poultry is a chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, goose, ostrich, peafowl, pigeon, swan, penguin, or quail.
6. A method of protecting or vaccinating poultry against disease conditions resulting from an avian astrovirus infection comprising administering to the poultry an immunogenically effective amount of the vaccine of claim 2 .
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the poultry is a chicken, turkey, guinea fowl, goose, ostrich, peafowl, pigeon, swan, penguin, or quail.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the disease is runt stunting syndrome or avian malabsorption syndrome (MAS).
9. A method of propagating astrovirus, comprising infecting an adapted hepatocellular carcinoma (LMH) cell line with the astrovirus according to claim 1 , culturing the cells under growing conditions and harvesting astrovirus when said cell line exhibits visible cytopathic effects.
10. A cell line which is deposited at the ATCC under accession number PTA-9299.
11. The vaccine of claim 3 , wherein said second pathogen is a reovirus.
12. The vaccine of claim 4 , wherein the disease condition is an acute disease form of runt stunting syndrome or MAS.
13. The vaccine of claim 2 , wherein said vaccine comprises an adjuvant and an inactivated form of the astrovirus isolate, designated AVS-1, comprising SEQ ID NO: 1, a sample of which is deposited at the ATCC under accession number PTA-9298.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said LMH cell line is a non-collagen dependent cell line designated LMH-KJ and is deposited at the ATCC under accession number PTA-9299.
15. A cell culture comprising culture medium and a cell line infected with the astrovirus according to claim 1 .
16. The cell culture according to claim 15 , wherein said cell line is an avian cell line.