Optimization of filters and processing conditions for aerosol detection of relevant avian respiratory viruses in poultry under experimental and field conditions.
Trenado Claudia C, Cea-Callejo Pablo P, Gomez-Lucia Esperanza E, Novoa Samuel S et al.
Airborne transmission contributes substantially to the spread of avian respiratory viruses, yet standardized and field-validated air sampling methods remain limited. Although significant efforts focus on improving the detection of avian influenza virus on farms, the rapid identification of other prevalent avian respiratory viruses is essential. This study systematically assessed the performance of cellulose-based, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and gelatin filters for capturing and recovering avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Laboratory assays using viral dilutions spiked onto filter surfaces were conducted to optimize elution conditions and to compare viral titer losses across different filter types. PTFE and gelatin filters consistently achieved the highest viral recovery rates in laboratory conditions and were subsequently field-tested in a commercial breeding hen farm. Under these conditions, using both impactor-based air samplers and passive sampling, the optimized PTFE and gelatin filters enabled early detection of low-pathogenicity IBV strains in environmental samples, even in the absence of clinical signs. This demonstrates the sensitivity of the approach for identifying low-level viral circulation. Individual hen sampling and qPCR assays confirmed the presence of IBV GI-12 and IBV G1-13 in cloacal swabs, while inoculation of embryonated eggs demonstrated viable virus in a subset of cloacal samples. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that appropriate filter selection and sample processing protocols are essential for reliable environmental viral detection. They support implementing air sampling as a practical component of routine surveillance and biosecurity programs against prevalent avian respiratory viruses beyond influenza.