Shedding, kinetics, molecular epidemiology and improved surveillance of inclusion body hepatitis caused by fowl adenovirus type-8b in broiler chicken

Inclusion body hepatitis caused by Fowl adenovirus is an important disease of chickens. A major risk factor identified in this thesis was multi-age sites. Viral load, faecal shedding of virus, clinical signs and bursal atrophy were reduced in chickens carrying maternal antibody or those infected at 14-17 days of age relative to 1-3 days of age. Methods to quantify FAdV-8b in litter and dust were developed and the utility of these tests shown. Presence of high levels in litter darkling beetles is suggestive of a role in epidemiology. FAdV8 was readily inactivated in litter at temperatures of 45˚C or above.