Characterization of Israeli avian metapneumovirus strains in turkeys and chickens

Although the disease associated with the avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has been described in Israel for more than 20 years and one Israeli isolate was characterized as subtype A, this is the first study investigating the strains circulating in Israel (period 2002 to 2004). Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 44% of the examined flocks, and one-half of the virus isolation attempts were successful....