Genus Avibirnavirus

Type Species	Infectious bursal disease virus	(IBDV)

Distinguishing Features

Species of the genus infect only birds.

Biological Features

The type species, Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes an immunosuppressive disease in chickens by destruction of the lymphoid cells in the bursa of Fabricius. Apoptosis has also been observed in this and other lymphoid organs. Recent studies have shown that the VP2 protein induces apoptosis in transfected mammalian cells. This study correlates well with evidence of apoptosis and B cell death in chickens infected with IBDV. The rapid depletion of B cells in the bursa of Fabricius leads to immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to other diseases. The virus is highly contagious and is of major importance to the poultry industry worldwide. Two serotypes of IBDV have been identified by cross-neutralization assays, serotype 1 and serotype 2. Serotype 1 strains are pathogenic in chickens, whereas serotype 2 strains are non-pathogenic.

List of Species Demarcation Criteria in the Genus

Not applicable.

List of Species in the Genus

Official virus species names are in italics. Tentative virus species names, alternative names ( ), strains or serotypes are not italicized. Virus names, genome sequence accession numbers [ ], and assigned abbreviations ( ) are:

Species in the Genus

Infectious bursal disease virus		(IBDV)
strain 002-73	[A:M64738, B:M19336]
strain STC	[A:D00499]
strain UK661	[A:X92761, X92760]
strain KS	[A:L42284]
strain OKYM	[A:D49707]
attenuated strain OKYM)	[A:D83985, A:D49706]
strain QC-2	[B:U20950]
strain Farragher	[A:A38328]
strain GPF-1E	[A:EO5443]
strain Cu-1	[A:D00867, X16107]
strain PBG-98	[A:D00868]
strain 52/70	[A:D00869]
strain Edgar	[A:A33255]
strain OH	[A:U30818, B:U30819]
strain Australian 002-73	[A:X03993, M24529, M27967, M64738]
strain P2	[A:X84034]
strain 23/82	[A:Z21971]

Tentative Species in the Genus

None reported.