Duration of Experimental Infectious Bronchitis in Chickens

Abstract

Summary Chickens with infections bronchitis (IB) were shown to harbour the virus Jor up to 49 clays after inoculation when housed in strict isolation, but for over 4 months when isolation was less effective. Virus was detected, in the latter circumstances, in spite of a significant level of circulating antibody in the infected chickens; it was assumed that continual reinfection with extraneous virus had occurred. It is concluded that a true carrier state does not result from a primary infection with IB virus.