Avian Adenovirus

Aviadenoviruses are adenoviruses that affect birds – particularly chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pheasants. Viruses in this genus cause specific disease syndromes such as Quail Bronchitis (QB), Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS), Haemorrhagic Enteritis (HE), Pheasant Marble Spleen Disease (MSD), Falcon adenovirus A and Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH).

Avian adenoviruses have a worldwide distribution and it is common to find multiple species on a single farm.

Transmission:

The virus is mainly spread horizontally by the oro-fecal route, but vertical transmission can occur in serogroup 1. Chicks hatching from infected eggs may excrete virus in faeces from the time of hatching, however they are more likely to excrete virus after two to four weeks of age. Once it has infected the bird the virus may remain latent until a period of stress, when it may then cause clinical disease.

No evidence of transmission from birds to humans has been identified.

Symptoms:

A wide range of virulence has been reported within the adenoviruses and the viruses are ubiquitous. Clinical signs are related to the organ affected. Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is usually seen in meat-producing birds between three and seven weeks of age, but has also been recorded in birds as young as seven days, and as old as twenty weeks

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is usually seen in meat-producing birds between three and seven weeks of age, but has also been recorded in birds as young as seven days, and as old as twenty weeks.

Diagnosis of aviadenovirus is by histopathology, electron microscopy, viral isolation and ELISA.