Transmission of chicken anaemia virus with semen
Hoop, R.K.
Veterinary Record 133(22): 551-552
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8116161 Document Number: 421794
Three groups of 20 laying hens were inseminated with 0.2 ml of semen mixed with 10superscript 2 TCID50 or with 5 x 10superscript 3 TCID50 of the chicken anaemia virus (CAV) strain Cux-1 or with semen from 10 cocks inoculated i.v. with either 10superscript 3 of 106.5 TCID50 of CAV-strain Cux-1. During the experiment cocks were kept singly in compartments and groups of hens were kept in single cages in different rooms; compartments and rooms had a positive pressure, filtered air supply. During the 40 day observation period blood samples were taken weekly and screened by indirect immunofluorescence for CAV-antibody, a titre of >= 40 was considered positive. Chickens hatched from the hens were reared separately, on day 18 they were killed and examined for signs of CAV-infection. No cock or hen showed signs of disease during the 40-day period. All the cocks and hens seroconverted within 2 to 3 weeks. Of 110 hatched chickens from the first week post infection (pi), 8 (73%) showed clinical signs of CAV-infection on days 12 to 14 of age. Vertical transmission of CAV occurred in 3 (9.1%) of 33 chickens from 2 of 20 hens inoculated with semen from infected cocks and in 5 (6.5%) of 77 chickens from one hen each inseminated with semen mixed with CAV in the first week pi. CAV was isolated from one hen inseminated with semen from a low-dose inoculated cock and 2 chickens from one hen inseminated with semen from a high dose inoculated cock. Chickens hatched at a later stage did not develop the disease and were free from CAV. It is concluded that the results have practical implications for breeding stock as vertical transmission of the virus from infected cocks may occur.