Geographical Expansion of Avian Metapneumovirus Subtype B: First Detection and Molecular Characterization of Avian Metapneumovirus Subtype B in US Poultry

Abstract

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), classified within the Pneumoviridae family, wreaks havoc on poultry health. It typically causes upper respiratory tract and reproductive tract infections, mainly in turkeys, chickens, and ducks. Four subtypes of AMPV (A, B, C, D) and two unclassified subtypes have been identified, of which subtypes A and B are widely distributed across the world. In January 2024, an outbreak of severe respiratory disease occurred on turkey and chicken farms across different states in the US. Metagenomics sequencing of selected tissue and swab samples confirmed the presence of aMPV subtype B. Subsequently, all samples were screened using an aMPV subtype A and B multiplex real-time RT-PCR kit. Of the 221 farms, 124 (56%) were found to be positive for aMPV-B. All samples were negative for subtype A. Six whole genomes were assembled, five from turkeys and one from chickens; all six assembled genomes showed 99.29 to 99.98% nucleotide identity, indicating a clonal expansion event for aMPV-B within the country. In addition, all six sequences showed 97.74 to 98.58% nucleotide identity with previously reported subtype B sequences, e.g., VCO3/60616, Hungary/657/4, and BR/1890/E1/19. In comparison to these two reference strains, the study sequences showed unique 49–62 amino acid changes across the genome, with maximum changes in glycoprotein (G). One unique AA change from T (Threonine) to I (Isoleucine) at position 153 in G protein was reported only in the chicken aMPV sequence, which differentiated it from turkey sequences. The twelve unique AA changes along with change in polarity of the G protein may indicate that these unique changes played a role in the adaptation of this virus in the US poultry. This is the first documented report of aMPV subtype B in US poultry, highlighting the need for further investigations into its genotypic characterization, pathogenesis, and evolutionary dynamics.