Jobin Jose Kattoor¹, Kuldeep Sharma¹, Naveen Kumar¹, Munish Batra², Naresh Jindal³, Ajit Singh Yadav⁴, Yashpal Singh Malik^1*
1Division of Biological Standardization, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India; ²Department of Veterinary Pathology, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India; ³Department of Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, LALRUVAS, Hisar 125 001, Haryana, India; ⁴Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: malikyps@gamil.com

ABSTRACT
The present epidemiologic study was attempted to discern the existing status of avian rotavirus prevailing in different states of India. The frequency and dissemination of avian group A and D rotaviruses in northern and southern states of India was ascertained by using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with silver staining (PAGE–ss) and RT–PCR assays. A total of 215 faecal/intestinal contents of chickens (1–8 weeks old) collected during July 2011 to January 2013 were examined for the presence of rotaviruses. Of the 215 diarrheic faecal samples, 7 (3.25%) were detected positive in PAGE–ss, while 25 (11.6%) revealed amplicons of expected size in RT–PCR for group A rotaviruses. Three of the cases were positive for both group A and D rotaviruses in RT–PCR. In RNA–PAGE, rotavirus positive samples showed typical mammalian group A specific observable 4:2:3:2 genomic pattern. Additional studies are essential to corroborate the notable surveillance of rotaviruses in avian species.

Key Words: Avian rotavirus, Prevalence; Polyacrylamide–gel electrophoresis; RT–PCR; VP6 gene; Mixed infection