Summary
This study developed an interactive, open-source platform for real-time spatiotemporal and phylogenetic tracking of avian infectious bronchitis virus in poultry populations. Analysis of 65 IBV sequences from one US state revealed a dispersal velocity of 12.3 km/year, with Arkansas DPI and Georgia 13 serotypes predominant, and likely viral origins in Alabama, Georgia, and Delaware. The authors demonstrated how genetic and spatial data integration could inform vaccination strategies and disease surveillance in poultry production.
Regional applicability
This study was conducted in the United States and focuses on US-specific IBV serotypes and circulation patterns. The methodology and platform approach could be transferable to United Kingdom poultry disease surveillance, though UK-specific IBV serotypes and vaccination programmes would require adaptation. The dashboard framework offers potential value for UK veterinary epidemiology and producer decision-making, contingent on data availability and local pathogen diversity.
Key measures
IBV dispersal velocity (12.3 km/year), serotype prevalence, phylogenetic lineage classification, vaccination coverage (26% of farms using MILDVAC-MASS+ARK vaccine), geographic origin inference from GenBank comparisons
Outcomes reported
The study analysed 65 IBV genetic sequences from infected farms to characterise viral dispersal velocity, serotype distribution, and geographic origin using phylodynamic and spatiotemporal methods. An interactive online dashboard was developed to enable real-time tracking of IBV strain circulation and evolution.
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