USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting research preproposals from colleges, universities and research facilities through Nov. 3, on combating turkey coronavirus (TCV) in the turkey industry.

TCV is a highly contagious intestinal virus found worldwide in major turkey-producing regions. Infections can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including diarrhea, high illness and death rates, poor growth, reduced feed efficiency and lower egg production in breeder hens. The virus spreads quickly within flocks through contaminated feces and litter, and between farms via equipment, people, insects and other carriers.

Control is difficult because no licensed vaccine is available in the United States. Outbreaks are managed through strict quarantine, controlled marketing or depopulation, with confirmation by polymerase chain reaction testing, serology or virus isolation. Because outbreaks are unpredictable and often prolonged, strong biosecurity, ongoing surveillance and rapid diagnostics are critical to protecting turkey health, welfare, and production.

Visit the USPOULTRY website for complete instructions to submit a preproposal.

On Monday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. ET, the USPOULTRY Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC) will host a Zoom webinar to provide an overview of the request for proposals (RFPs) related to this topic and three other Board Research Initiative topics, as well as the process for submitting a preproposal. The webinar is complimentary and open to all researchers interested in learning more about the RFPs for the four topics. The webinar will provide an opportunity to ask specific questions to the FRAC, and it will be recorded and made available afterward. The link can be accessed here.