Antigenic comparisons of selected avian reoviruses by use of the plaque-reduction neutralization assay.

The antigenic interrelatedness of 3 clone-purified turkey reoviruses (NG-Turkey, 82-88, and NC-TEV) to each other and to 4 clone-purified chicken reoviruses (S1133, Co8, Fahey-Crawley, and avian type 2) was determined in reciprocal cross-neutralization tests, using polyclonal antisera and the plaque-reduction technique. The morphologic features of plaques formed under agar were studied for all 7 reoviruses, and size comparisons for turkey vs chicken isolates were made. All 3 turkey reoviruses (with the exception of NG-Turkey vs Fahey-Crawley chicken reovirus) formed plaques significantly (P less than 0.05) smaller than plaques produced by their chicken counterparts. The 3 turkey reoviruses were closely related to each other and to chicken reovirus CO8. The antigenic differences between turkey reoviruses 82-88 and NC-TEV and chicken reovirus S1133 were slight (minor subtype); however, the latter and NG-Turkey were serotypically distinct. The NG-Turkey and 82-88 turkey reoviruses were more related (minor subtype) to the Fahey-Crawley and avian type 2 chicken reoviruses, than was NC-TEV turkey reovirus (major subtype).