Ultrastructural changes in the cardiac muscle of chickens infected with the GB strain of Newcastle disease virus.

The changes in chicken cardiomyocytes resulting from infection with the GB strain of Newcastle disease virus were studied by electron microscopy. The virus infection caused shortening of the sarcomeres and generalized oedema in the perivascular region of the heart muscle, containing debris from degenerated mitochondria and myofilaments. Some of the cardiomyocytes had condensed chromatin, resembling that of apoptotic cells.