UNEXPECTED ISOLATION OF VIRULENT NEWCASTLE-DISEASE VIRUS FROM COMMERCIAL EMBRYONATED FOWLS EGGS

The authors report a case of casual isolation of virulent Newcastle di sease virus (NDV) from embryonated eggs. The virus was isolated from u ninfected chicken embryo liver and fibroblast cultures prepared from c ommercial embryonated fowls' eggs. A serological and virological inves tigation carried out on the breeders which had laid those eggs showed high titres against NDV, and virus isolation from cloacal swabs. The v irus was also isolated from the progeny of the same breeders which sho wed no clinical signs of ND, following episodes of mortality. Vertical transmission of the virus is discussed.