EXPERIMENTAL-INFECTION OF TURKEY POULTS WITH WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS

The pathogenicity of a field isolate of western equine encephalitis (W EE) virus, which was recovered from a breeder hen during investigation s of egg production drops in California turkey flocks, was tested in 2 -wk-old turkey poults. No symptoms or mortality were observed in poult s inoculated intramuscularly with 4.2 log(10) 50% embryo lethal doses of virus; however, the infection did result in mild to moderate lympho id necrosis in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus glands beginning on t he first day postinoculation. In addition, WEE virus could be isolated from the blood of infected poults for up to 3 days postinoculation.