SUSCEPTIBILITY OF EMBRYOS AND CHICKS, DERIVED FROM IMMUNIZED BREEDINGHENS, TO AVIAN NEPHRITIS VIRUS

High virus-neutralizing antibodies were induced in specific-pathogen-f ree breeding hens by administration of live and killed avian nephritis virus (ANV), strain M-8, antigens. Ten-day-old embryos from immune he ns survived challenge by ANV which was administered by the yolk sac or allantoic cavity route. When the progeny chicks from immune dams were infected with ANV orally or by contact challenge, the virus replicate d in the intestine. However, they were protected against pathological damage and virus replication in the kidney. The chicks without materna l antibodies showed apparent renal lesions and virus replication to hi gh titre in the kidneys.