Characterization of an avian adenovirus associated with inclusion body hepatitis in day-old turkeys.
A group I avian adenovirus isolated from day-old turkeys with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) was identified as turkey adenovirus serotype 2 (TAV2) based on cross-neutralization assays and DNA restriction endonuclease analyses. Yolk sac inoculation of embryonated turkey eggs resulted in embryo mortality and significantly (P < 0.01) decreased hatchability compared with sham-inoculated controls. Embryo mortality occurred primarily between day 24 of incubation and the time embryos hatched. Focal necrosis was detected in livers of 11/52 virus-inoculated embryos that died postinoculation and 1/27 hatchlings; in three embryos, areas of necrosis contained intranuclear inclusion bodies. These findings identify the IBH isolate as TAV2, incriminate the virus as a potential cause of suboptimal hatchability in turkeys, and provide additional evidence for causal involvement in IBH.
Guy
J S
JS
Department of Microbiology, Pathology, and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
Barnes
H J
HJ
D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D000259:Aviadenovirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000821:virology; D007668:Kidney; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011201:Poultry Diseases; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014422:Turkeys