IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION FOR THE DETECTION OF CHICKEN ANEMIA VIRUS IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED INFECTION AND FIELD OUTBREAKS

A double stranded DNA probe, biotinylated by random priming, was used for in situ hybridization of chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in thymus tis sue. Hybridization was visualized with an alkaline phosphatase conjuga ted streptavidin biotin complex and the substrate New Fuchsin. The tes t was performed on both uninfected and CAV-, adenovirus- or infectious bursal disease virus-infected specified pathogen free White Leghorn c hickens. In addition, both healthy commercial broilers and broilers wi th blue wing disease or with colisepticemia, were tested. Genomic CAV was detected in all CAV-infected and blue wing-diseased chickens. With the exception of one chicken with colisepticemia, which showed a unex pectedly positive reaction, all control chickens tested negative in th e test developed.