COMPARISON OF 4 FIXATIVES FOR ROUTINE SPLENIC HISTOLOGY AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STAINING FOR GROUP-II AVIAN ADENOVIRUS

Four different fixatives, A, B, C, and D, were compared for use in rou tine histology of splenic tissue and for immunohistochemical staining to detect group II avian adenoviral antigen. Sixteen pheasants were ex perimentally infected with type II adenovirus; spleens from each bird were harvested, divided, and treated with each of the four fixatives. All four fixatives were adequate for routine histology. Fixative B was significantly more sensitive for immunohistochemistry than the three other fixatives, and it also detected the viral antigens at the highes t dilutions of the primary antibody.