Studies on the pathogenesis of group A avian rotavirus infection in turkeys

Kang, Shien-young; Nagaraja, Kakambi V.; Newman, John A.

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 1993;33(2):217-225.

Shien-young Kang¹, Kakambi V. Nagaraja², John A. Newman²

¹Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, Chungbuk National University
²Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

Group A 조류 로타 바이러스의 병원성에 관한 연구

강신영¹, ², ²

¹충북대학교 농과대학 수의학과
²미네소타 수의과대학

Abstract

Commercial turkey poults not previously exposed to avian rotavirus were inoculated orally with the virus alone or in combination with E coki serotype 078 at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days of age. Turkey poults of 1, 7 and 14 days of age were susceptible to infection despite the presence of maternal antibodies against avian rotavirus in their serum. However, turkey poults at 21 days of age were less susceptible compared to those ages 1, 7 and 14 days. The clinical signs in poults of all ages were mild. Viral antigens were demonstrated in the mature villous epithelial cells of the duodenum, jejunum and ilem. Histopathological lesions were characterized by vacuolation of the epithelial cells and heterophil infiltration in infected turkey poults. A significant difference in D-xylose absorption was observed between control and rotavirus infected groups at 1 and 3 days post-infection in 14 days old turkey poults.

Key Words: avian rotavirus, pathogenesis, D-xylose adsorption, turkey