Isolation of infectious laryngotracheitis virus from proximal femora of lame broiler chickens.
Two herpesviruses previously isolated from seven of 19 affected joint/bone samples in an earlier survey of lameness in broilers were identified. They were characterised as infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) virus using serum neutralisation, immunofluorescence, restriction enzyme analysis and polymerase chain reaction techniques. In experimentally infected chicks, one of the isolates caused mild ILT and intranuclear inclusion bodies were present in the tracheal epithelium after four days. It is considered unlikely that these viruses were involved in the pathological changes in the affected legs. The possibility that ILT pathogenesis and epidemiology are more complex than currently understood is discussed.
Jones
R C
RC
University of Liverpool, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Leahurst, Neston, South Wirral.
Williams
R A
RA
Savage
C E
CE
Thorp
B H
BH
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D005269:Femur / Q000382:microbiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001352:Herpesvirus 1, Gallid / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes