Adenovirus Infection and Disease. I. Some Characteristics of an Isolate from Chickens in Indiana

Abstract

SUMMARY A virus designated Indiana C was isolated in chicken embryos from mature White Leghorns in a flock that was experiencing a problem in egg-shell quality. Two of 8 chickens necropsied had gross lesions of a hepatitis, and the virus was isolated from suspensions of affected tissue. Infected embryos died or were stunted and curled. The isolate was not neutralized by infectious bronchitis (IB) antisera prepared from presently known serotypes but was neutralized significantly by quail bronchitis virus (QBV) and chicken-embryolethal-orphan (CELO) virus antiserum. Indiana C antiserum neutralized CELO virus. It was thermostable (60 minutes at 56 C) and was also resistant to chloroform and acid (pH 3). Chickens 3 days to 8 weeks old were inoculated with the cloned virus. Six trials were conducted with the virus given by eye-drop, intratracheal, subcutaneous, and intravenous routes. Mild respiratory signs developed 5 to 7 days postinoculation. Necropsied chickens had lesions of a respiratory-tract infection with concurrent hepatitis, comparable to individuals from which the virus was isolated originally. The role of adenovirus infections and their possible cause of disease problems in chickens under field circumstances in Indiana are discussed.