ISOLATION OF A HAEMAGGLUTINATING ADENO‐LIKE VIRUS RELATED TO VIRUS 127 FROM AN AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FLOCK WITH AN EGG DROP SYNDROME

Abstract

An egg drop syndrome within Australian broiler poultry is described. The syndrome was characterized by delayed onset of laying, a lower peak in egg production and a drop in egg production shortly after reaching peak production. Antibody to virus 127 was detected in 102 of 106 fowl, sera tested. Two hemagglutinating viruses were isolated from 1 affected flock and 1 was subjected to further study. It was adenovirus-like on EM examination and hemagglutination was not inhibited by a specific antiserum to Newcastle disease virus. An antiserum was raised in White Leghorn fowl against the isolate and this antiserum was found to cross-react with virus 127, a prototype virus of egg drop syndrome 76.