The relation between average duodenal mast cell count, duodenal mucosal mast cell numbers, duodenal connective tissue mast cell numbers, circulating basophil numbers, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lesion score were studied to gain an understanding of the events that may lead to intestinal lesion formation associated with hemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) infection. Changes in vascular permeability in the duodenum in birds inoculated with HEV were examined, using colloidal carbon and ferritin as vascular markers. Turkeys inoculated with HEV had significantly (P < 0.05) higher duodenal mast cell counts than did noninfected controls. Birds inoculated with HEV had significantly (P < 0.05) more mucosal mast cells than did phosphate-buffered saline solution-inoculated birds. Connective tissue mast cell and basophil numbers were unaffected by viral inoculation. Thermal stress did not have significant effect on lesion severity, but did increase number of birds that developed the characteristic intestinal lesions. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HEV-inoculated birds, compared with phosphate-buffered saline solution-inoculated controls. Increase in vascular permeability was only detected in HEV-inoculated birds with intestinal lesions. Results indicate that mast cells, and the vasoactive mediators contained within mast cells, may be important in the early manifestation of HEV infection. They also provide a possible mechanism through which biochemical and physiologic changes characteristic of HEV infection can occur.

The relation between average duodenal mast cell count, duodenal mucosal mast cell numbers, duodenal connective tissue mast cell numbers, circulating basophil numbers, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lesion score were studied to gain an understanding of the events that may lead to intestinal lesion formation associated with hemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) infection. Changes in vascular permeability in the duodenum in birds inoculated with HEV were examined, using colloidal carbon and ferritin as vascular markers. Turkeys inoculated with HEV had significantly (P < 0.05) higher duodenal mast cell counts than did noninfected controls. Birds inoculated with HEV had significantly (P < 0.05) more mucosal mast cells than did phosphate-buffered saline solution-inoculated birds. Connective tissue mast cell and basophil numbers were unaffected by viral inoculation. Thermal stress did not have significant effect on lesion severity, but did increase number of birds that developed the characteristic intestinal lesions. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in HEV-inoculated birds, compared with phosphate-buffered saline solution-inoculated controls. Increase in vascular permeability was only detected in HEV-inoculated birds with intestinal lesions. Results indicate that mast cells, and the vasoactive mediators contained within mast cells, may be important in the early manifestation of HEV infection. They also provide a possible mechanism through which biochemical and physiologic changes characteristic of HEV infection can occur.

Three serologically indistinguishable viruses from the avian adenovirus type-II splenomegaly virus of chickens, marble spleen disease virus of pheasants, and hemorrhagic enteritis virus of turkeys, were analyzed by restriction endonuclease fingerprinting. The DNA from these viruses were examined with 6 restriction endonucleases (Bgl II, EcoRI, HindIII, Hha I, Xho I, and BamHI). Markedly different DNA cleavage patterns were found in these virus isolates with all the 5 enzymes, except with BamHI, suggesting genetic differences between isolates of adenovirus type II. Restriction endonuclease analyses were found to provide a method for distinguishing genetically different, and yet serologically similar, strains of avian adenovirus type II.

Recently, Fowl Adenovirus (FAdV) cases have been reported in many countries worldwide. FAdV is a contagious agent associated with inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) in chickens. It belongs to the Aviadenovirus genus of the family Adenoviridae. The virus is classified into five species (A to E) and further divided into 12 serotypes. Depending on the serotypes, they have diverse characteristics of virus that can either be pathogenic or nonpathogenic strain. From the viewpoint of epidemiological as well as vaccine development, it is very important to detect FAdV strains. Previous studies have been conducted on molecular research, but the continuity of this study in Malaysia has been limited. This study aims to identify the serotype classification of five Malaysian FAdV isolates obtained from field outbreaks during 2017-2019. In this study, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were conducted based on Hexon gene. Results from the nucleotide sequence analysis discovered that the five isolates showed high similarity with FAdV-8b strains. High bootstrap values in phylogenetic analysis supported the clustering of the Malaysian FAdVs isolates into FAdVs species E. Consequently, the result of this study contributed important information on the epidemiology and culminated in the importance of control strategies against FAdV infection in Malaysia.

In this study ELISA was standardized for detecting antibodies against Hydropericardium Syndrome Virus. Factors like Antigen, Conjugate and incubation time were studied. Standardization was carried out by checker board titration method. Optimum incubation time for colour development was found to be 15 minutes while 50 mug/ml of antigen gave better results than 100 mug/ml. The conjugate dilution of 1:500 was observed to give satisfactory results as determined by regression analysis. Cut off value was determined by adding 2SDs and 3SDs in the mean optical density (OD) values of negative serum samples. It was found that mean OD+2SD (0.0684) resulted in better diagnostic sensitivity) and diagnostic specificity than mean OD+3SDs (0.0741).