Popis: |
In July 2001 in southwestern Ontario, a young broiler breeder pullet flock experienced 2.1% mortality from 10 to 14 d of age. Mortality prior to and after this period was normal. Clinical signs included depression, lateral recumbency, and death with feed present in the crop. Necropsy lesions included friable, pale yellow-white livers scattered with hemorrhages. Histological examination revealed necrotizing hepatitis with large basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in the hepatocytes compatible with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH). An adenovirus from livers was isolated in chicken hepatoma cells. Virus neutralization and DNA analysis based on restriction fragment length polymorphism performed on this isolate were consistent with group I fowl adenovirus serotype 2. The origin of the adenovirus involved in this outbreak of IBH could not be established with certainty. |