Isolation and Characterization of a Virus Associated with Arthritis of Chickens

Abstract

A virus was isolated from the hock joints of broiler chickens with arthritis. After primary isolation in embryonating chicken eggs, the agent was grown in cell cultures. Characterization studies revealed the virus to be resistant to lipid solvents, pH 3.0 and pH 9.0, and 56 C. It possessed no hemagglutinating activity for chicken, turkey, bovine, and human erythrocytes. Electron microscopy studies showed the virus to be 80 m,. in diameter and it formed crystalline arrays in the cytoplasm of infected cells. The virus was tentatively classified as a reovirus. Arthritis was readily produced in chickens inoculated with the virus. However, severity of the disease varied according to the route of inoculation.