Susceptibility of broiler chicks to infection by avian pneumovirus of turkey origin

In this paper we present the results of studies on the infectivity of an is olate of avian pneumovirus (APV) from turkeys to broiler chickens. Two-week -old broiler chicks free of antibodies to APV were exposed either by oculon asal or oral route with a cell cultured APV of turkey origin. Chickens from both APV-inoculated groups exhibited clinical signs chat included coughing , sneezing, nasal discharge, and watery eyes during 2-8 days postinoculatio n. Tissue samples from birds in the APV-inoculated group were positive for APV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) up to 9 days postinoculation. Sample s of blood from both oculonasally and orally infected chickens were positiv e for APV. intestinal samples from chickens infected with APV orally were p ositive for the presence of APV on PCR up to 9 days postinoculation. APV wa s reisolated from samples taken from chickens in both groups inoculated ora lly and oculonasally. Sera from birds exposed by the oculonasal or by the o ral route showed the presence of APV-specific antibodies.