Davidson I, Artzi N, Shkoda I, Lublin A, Loeb E, Schat K A
Division of Avian and Fish Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Virus Res. 2008 Mar;132(1-2):152-9. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2007.11.012. Epub 2008 Jan 4.
Chicken anemia virus (CAV) spreads vertically and horizontally, however, the process is mostly still obscure. To further clarify the horizontal CAV spread, we examined the contribution of feathers. We demonstrated that CAV could be amplified from DNA purified from feather shafts of experimentally infected chicks, and the process efficacy was evaluated by comparing the amplification of DNA purified from feather shafts and lymphoid organs of CAV-experimentally infected chicks. DNA from feathers was found as an efficient source for CAV detection. Further, to substantiate whether CAV reaches the feather shafts passively via the blood, or intrinsically, causing histopathological changes, the feather follicle tissues were examined for CAV-induced lesions. Specific histological changes were found, however, immunohistochemistry failed to detect viral proteins. To determine whether the feather shafts are a source of infective virus, they were homogenized and used to infect 1-day-old chicks via the mucosal entries (eyes, nose and oropharynx). That infection mode simulates the natural route of horizontal infection in commercial poultry houses. We demonstrated the CAV-infection by serology, virology and pathology, showing that feather shafts carry infectious CAV either on their surface or within their feather pulp, and concluded that feathers contribute to the horizontal CAV dissemination.
鸡贫血病毒（CAV）可垂直传播和水平传播，然而，其传播过程大多仍不清楚。为了进一步阐明CAV的水平传播，我们研究了羽毛的作用。我们证明，从实验感染雏鸡的羽轴中纯化的DNA可以扩增出CAV，并且通过比较从CAV实验感染雏鸡的羽轴和淋巴器官中纯化的DNA的扩增情况来评估该过程的效率。发现来自羽毛的DNA是检测CAV的有效来源。此外，为了证实CAV是通过血液被动到达羽轴，还是内在地引起组织病理学变化，我们检查了毛囊组织中CAV诱导的病变。发现了特定的组织学变化，然而，免疫组织化学未能检测到病毒蛋白。为了确定羽轴是否是感染性病毒的来源，我们将其匀浆并通过黏膜入口（眼睛､鼻子和口咽）用于感染1日龄雏鸡。该感染模式模拟了商业禽舍中水平感染的自然途径。我们通过血清学､病毒学和病理学方法证实了CAV感染，表明羽轴在其表面或羽髓内携带感染性CAV，并得出结论：羽毛有助于CAV的水平传播。
