Pathogenic Characteristics of Highly Virulent Avian Reovirus, Strain 58-132, Isolated from a Chicken with Tenosynovitis

Abstract

The pathogenic characteristics of avian reovirus strain 58-132, which was isolated from a chicken with tenosynovitis, were investigated. Strain 58-132 killed 100% of chickens by subcutaneous inoculation at day-old with 10^2.7 or more plaque forming units (PFU) per bird, and the 50% lethal dose of the virus was 10^0.8 PFU. By oral inoculation at day-old, high mortality was also observed. Moreover, age-dependent development of tenosynovitis in orally inoculated chickens was recognized. Tenosynovitis was reproduced in chickens that received the virus orally at 14 days or younger, but not at 21 or 28-day-old. Growth retardation was observed significantly in virus inoculated birds. Contact transmission was confirmed with evidences of microscopic lesions, virus recovery and antibody production in contact chickens.