Experimental infection of bobwhite quail with Indiana C adenovirus.

Bobwhite quails (Colinus virginianus) were inoculated intratracheally, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously with Indiana C adenovirus at 1, 3, 6, or 9 weeks of age. Mortality rates were 33-100% in quails inoculated at 1 or 3 weeks of age and 0-10% in quails inoculated at 6 or 9 weeks of age. Gross and histologic lesions included necrotizing tracheitis and bronchitis with pneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis, and lymphoid depletion of the bursa of Fabricius; these were consistent with quail bronchitis. Indiana C is highly pathogenic in bobwhite quails and cannot be recommended as a vaccine to prevent quail bronchitis.