Infectious Bronchitis Virus Dynamics in Poultry Systems

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly contagious avian coronavirus that continues to challenge global poultry production. Dynamic interactions among viral evolution, host immune responses and management practices underpin the persistence and spread of IBV in commercial flocks. The virus displays a broad tissue tropism, infecting respiratory, renal and reproductive epithelia and causing variable clinical presentations including tracheitis, nephritis and reproductive failure. Genetic diversity arises from frequent mutations and genome recombination, giving rise to novel genotypes that often evade existing vaccines and necessitate ongoing surveillance. Birds shed IBV via respiratory secretions and faeces, facilitating rapid transmission through aerosols, fomites and trade networks. Environmental factors such as flock density, biosecurity gaps and wild bird reservoirs further influence outbreak dynamics. Control measures centre on vaccination with live attenuated and inactivated strains; however, incomplete cross-protection and potential risks of vaccine reversion demand continual refinement of immunisation programmes. Advances in molecular diagnostics have enhanced real-time monitoring, while studies of host–pathogen interactions at cellular and systems levels are illuminating the mechanisms of pathogenicity and immunity. Integrating such insights with improved biosecurity and targeted vaccination strategies is critical to limit economic losses and safeguard animal welfare. Continued interdisciplinary research that spans virology, immunology, genomics and management science is essential to predict emergent IBV threats and optimise control in diverse poultry systems worldwide.

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Recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies have delineated the spectrum of cell types targeted by IBV in respiratory, renal and lymphoid tissues, uncovering tissue-specific gene expression changes and immune signalling pathways. Key findings include identification of pro-inflammatory cytokine upregulation in macrophages, apoptosis-related gene activation in renal epithelial cells and co-expression networks that underpin viral pathogenesis.

Phylogenetic network approaches, combining clustering algorithms with recombination analysis, have revealed that IBV strains form distinct evolutionary clusters shaped by genetic exchange. These analyses implicate migratory birds as unrecognised reservoirs and transmission routes, highlighting the role of wild avifauna in connecting otherwise isolated poultry outbreaks and accelerating the spread of novel variants.

In vivo trials of baicalin supplementation in broiler flocks have shown that this bioactive compound can alleviate IBV-induced lesions by restoring respiratory microbiota balance and altering host amino acid and nicotinamide metabolism. Such metabolomic and microbiome interventions attenuate viral load and inflammatory cytokine release, pointing to complementary strategies alongside vaccination for disease mitigation.

Infectious Bronchitis Virus Dynamics in Poultry Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in infectious bronchitis virus dynamics in poultry systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Tropism: The preference of a virus for infecting specific cell types or tissues.

Single-cell RNA sequencing: A technique for profiling gene expression at the resolution of individual cells.

Phylogenetic network: A graphical model that represents evolutionary relationships, including recombination events, among viral strains.

Recombination: The process by which viral genomes exchange genetic material, generating new variant strains.

Microbiota: The community of microorganisms inhabiting a particular environment, such as the respiratory tract.

Metabolomics: The large-scale study of small molecules and metabolites within biological samples to characterise metabolic changes.

References

1. Deciphering infected cell types, hub gene networks and cell-cell communication in infectious bronchitis virus via single-cell RNA sequencing. PLOS Pathogens (2024).
2. Phylogenetic network of infectious bronchitis virus: exploring the impact of migratory birds on viral clustering, evolution, and recombination. Veterinary Quarterly (2025).
3. Baicalin Protects Broilers against Avian Coronavirus Infection via Regulating Respiratory Tract Microbiota and Amino Acid Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).