Etiology and epidemiological significance of the hemorrhagic nephritis andenteritis of geese

An unknown viral disease appeared and caused losses in 1969 among goslings in Hungary. Following experimental infection of one day-old goslings with s amples collected at the time of the first description of Hemorrhagic Nephri tis and Enteritis of Geese (HNEG), the authors identified the causative age nt by PCR as Polyomavirus. The same results were obtained by the investigat ion of the original infective material. At present Hungary is free from HNE G. The literature data prove that in the countries where HNEG exists, it ca uses serious losses among geese. According to the results of clinical exper iments carried out in the early '70s, the agent was contagious for the 1-da y-old ducks, however, the mortality and morbidity were less than for goslin gs. The results suggest that in addition to infected geese, geese eggs and meat products, infected duck can also contribute to spreading the virus.