ARS | Publication request: Mitigation of Horizontal Transmission of Subgroup J Avian Leukosis Virus During and Immediately Following Hatching

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 22, 2000
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Transmission of avian leukosis virus, subgroup J, from donor chickens inoculated as embryos to simulate congenital infection to uninfected hatchmates was studied in two strains of commercial broiler breeder chickens. Transmission occurred readily when chicks were hatched in direct physical contact with infected donors, or were exposed in the hatchery by manual cloacal transfer, needle transfer during subcutaneous inoculation,or ingestion of infected meconium. However, transmission was prevented by wire partitions in the hatcher and rearing of small groups in wire cubicles, and did not result from short-term direct or indirect contact. Multiple interventions based on hatching, handling and rearing chicks in small groups successfully reduced infection levels in groups of chicks supplemented with infected embryos compared to similar groups without interventions.