Background and Aims: Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of avian infectious bronchitis, which is characterized by respiratory, reproductive, and renal signs. IBV is a highly variable virus with a large number of genotypes. S1 gene sequencing has been used for molecular epidemiological studies and genotypic characterization of IBV. To better understand the molecular epidemiology of IBV in Iran, we sequenced the S1 gene of IBV field isolates, a total of 40 tracheal and kidney tissue specimens from different commercial broiler flocks in the East of Iran were collected from 2015. Materials and Methods: 15 IBV-positive samples were selected from among the total and were further characterized by sequencing the spike glycoprotein gene. The isolates were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and characterized by sequencing the spike glycoprotein gene. Results: Three genotypes were detected. The percentage of Variant 2 (IS/1494 like), 793/B, and QX genotypes was 66.7%, 26.7%, and 6.6% respectively. We reported the QX as the first time and Variant2 was the dominant genotype in this area. Conclusion: It is an updated and comprehensive study of genotyping of IBV and completes IBV puzzle in the East of Iran.

Background and Aims: Avian Influenza (AI) H9N2 subtype was first reported to infect turkeys in the United States in 1966 and has been panzootic in Eurasia. In Iran, the H9N2 virus was first isolated from broiler chickens in 1998 in Ghazvin province and it is the most prevalent subtype of influenza virus in poultry industry in Iran at the present time. Materials and Methods: In this study, we sequenced and analyzed Nucleoprotein (NP) gene of six AI H9N2 isolates from broiler farms of different parts of Iran from 1998 to 2011 to show probable changes since first advent. Results: Results indicate that nucleotide homology among these isolates with NP genes is between 91.8% to 98.8%. The divergences between isolates have significantly been increased since 2007.Iranian AI H9N2 Isolates based on NP gene divided in two distinct clusters according to their isolation year. Group 1 is located in Y-439 clade and Group 2 is located in G1 Clade. Iranian H9N2 isolates of avian influenza virus show more amino acid substitutions Compare to those found in human H9N2 isolates. Conclusion: The results shown here that further gene reassortment has occurred subsequent to the emergence of viruses in the Middle East highlights the potential for viruses to evolve rapidly.

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Since 1998, H9N2 AI outbreaks have been one of the major problems in Iranian poultry industry. The association of high mortality and case report of H5N1 and H9N2 influenza virus in wild birds in recent years raised the specter of a possible new genetic modified AI virus. In this study, we do phylogenetic analysis on Full- length Nonstructural (NS) genes of seven H9N2 Isolates from Broilers in Iran, Tehran province during 1998-2007. Phylogenetic analysis clearly shows that Iranian H9N2 isolates gene pools, corresponding to just NS allele A. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of isolated viruses revealed a substantial number of silent mutations, which results in high degree of homology in amino acid sequences. In addition, the cluster of Iranian H9N2 isolates could be subdivided into two subgroups, which matched their times of isolation especially around 2006 time line. The high degree of similarity between the NS genes of the Iranian H9N2 isolates supports the hypothesis that these genes originated from a single predecessor. Present result provides useful molecular epidemiological data to understand the dynamics of H9N2 evolution during 9 years in Iran and support earlier phylogenetic observations.