ANTIGENIC CHARACTERIZATION OF A TURKEY CORONAVIRUS IDENTIFIED IN POULT ENTERITIS-AFFECTED AND MORTALITY SYNDROME-AFFECTED TURKEYS

A turkey coronavirus (TCV [NC95]) was characterized by antigenic compa rison with other avian and mammalian coronaviruses using immunofluores cence (FA) and immunoperoxidase (IF) procedures. Based on FA and IP pr ocedures, TCV (NC95) was determined to be antigenically indistinguisha ble from turkey enteric (bluecomb) coronavirus (TECV). In addition, TC V (NC95) and TECV were found to be closely related to infectious bronc hitis virus (IBV); a one-way antigenic relationship was demonstrated. Polyclonal antibodies specific for TECV and IBV reacted strongly again st TCV (NC95), as determined by FA procedures. Monoclonal antibodies ( MAbs) specific for IBV matrix protein (MAb 919) reacted strongly again st TCV (NC95) and TECV as determined by FA and IP procedures; an IBV p eplomer protein-specific MAb (MAb 94) did not recognize the two viruse s. These studies suggest an identification of TCV (NC95) as a strain o f TECV, and provide evidence of a close antigenic relationship between these viruses and IBV..