Electron microscopic findings of cells with inclusion bodies in experimental hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys.

The spleen, liver, bone marrow and intestines of two turkeys in which hemorrhagic enteritis of turkeys was experimentally reproduced were examined electron-microscopically. Intranuclear inclusion bodies as described in a previous report were found in all the tissues examined. These occupied most of the area in affected nuclei and were composed of viral particles with morphological characteristics of an adenovirus. The cells with the inclusions were divided into two types of cells, immature and reticular cells. There was some variety in the stage of differentiation of the former cells. As the viral particles developed the cells degenerated and disintegrated. A few particles had been released into the cytoplasm of the degenerated cells but no particles were present in intercellular spaces.