Problems and Methods of Diagnosis of Respiratory Viral Infections of Birds

Abstract

Viruses, according to the latest ideas [1,2], are the oldest creatures on our planet, possessing greater genetic diversity than any of the cellular organisms [3]. Unfortunately, viruses from free-living replicating elements evolved into parasites that embed their genetic material into the nucleotide sequence of the carrier. Naturally, any alien genetic material is perceived by the body of an infected creature as a threat, prompting, in turn, the response of the immune system [4]. The consequences of this response, such as fever, tumor and cell apoptosis, are quite painful processes that sometimes lead to the death of the host organism [5]. Since many viruses are characterized by a mode of transmission between individuals of the host species, or even interspecific transmission, viral diseases often become epidemics. Since the external symptoms of various viral diseases are quite like each other, animal husbandry in general and poultry farming constantly need to improve old ones and develop new methods for diagnosing viral diseases [6,7]. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe the current methods for diagnosing avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease, some of the most dangerous and common infections of birds [8,9].