Abstract
High rates of mortality for Pekin ducklings have been recorded in several duck farms in China since 2006. Dead ducklings were characterized by spleen necrosis, suggesting microbial infection as a cause of disease. Laboratory investigations led to the isolation of a virus strain from the spleen tissues of dead ducklings, designated DRV-HC. Subsequent experimental infections with DRV-HC resulted in marked spleen necrosis in the ducklings similar to those observed in the natural outbreaks. Electron microscopy of the cultured DRV-HC revealed viral particles that were non-enveloped and icosahedral with a mean diameter of approximately 72 nm. Agar gel precipitating tests showed that the isolate shared a common group-specific antigen with chicken reovirus S1133. DNA sequencing revealed that this isolate was closely related to Muscovy duck reoviruses. Experimental infection with DRV-HC resulted in death of young chicks with necrotic foci in the liver and spleen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of a duck reovirus with high virulence in Pekin ducklings and SPF chickens.
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