Demonstration of antibodies to Turkey rhinotracheitis virus in serum from commercially reared flocks of chickens

Abstract

Using both an ELISA and a serum neutralisation test, antibodies to turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) virus were found in sera collected from commercial flocks of chickens after the initial appearance of TRT in turkeys in Britain in mid-1985 but not in chicken sera collected before that time. Good correlation was found between the results of the two assays and antibodies were found in chickens of all commercial types and of all ages, ranging from 31 days to 56 weeks. Apparently healthy flocks appeared to have been infected with the virus, as did flocks which had recovered from a variety of disease outbreaks including ones attributed to infectious bronchitis, and severe tracheitis as well as swollen head syndrome. The results presented here do not provide conclusive proof of an association between the presence of TRT antibodies in chicken sera and any particular disease condition and it appears that TRT virus can infect chickens without necessarily being responsible for clinical disease.