Isolation of a reticuloendotheliosis virus from chickens inoculated with Marek's disease vaccine.

Over a period from spring to fall in 1974, a disease with delayed growth, anemia, abnormal feathers, and leg paralysis as main symptoms broke out in flocks of chickens inoculated with Marek's disease vaccine. A virus was isolated from affected birds in the field and the same lot of Marek's disease vaccine as inoculated into these birds. It had a common antigenicity to the T strain of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) and could not be discriminated from this strain on the basis of morphology or property. When chicks were inoculated with it, they presented essentially the same symptoms as the birds affected in the field. Since the disease was reproduced in this manner, it was presumed to have been caused by REV contained in the vaccine as contaminant. The virus persisted in the body for long time and also induced horizontal infection.     

Modification of low virulent Newcastle disease virus infection in chickens infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus

One-day-old SPF chicks were inoculated with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) which had been isolated from contaminated Marek's disease vaccine. Then they were subjected to super infection with the B1 or TCND strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and examined for virus recovery, antibody response and the appearance of symptoms. Regardless of the time, from 0 to 8 weeks, of inoculation with the NDV-B1 strain after the REV infection, the antibody response was suppressed and the duration of the NDV recovery prolonged. Specific death preceded by severe respiratory or neural signs occurred more frequently to chicks inoculated with REV than to uninoculated controls after inoculation with the NDV-B1 strain in the neonatal stage or with the NDV-TCND strain at 5 weeks of age.     

Pathogenicity for chicks of line cells from lymphoma of Marek's disease.

Pathogenicity for chicks of the MSB-1 line, a cell line derived from the tumorous tissue of a chick with Marek's disease (MD) and established by Akiyama & Kato, was studied. Five groups, including a control one, of 20 chicks each were inoculated with 1 X 10(3), 1 X 10(4), 1 X 10(5), 1 X 10(6) and no cells of a 180-day culture of the cell line at one day of age. They were housed all together in an isolation unit. An attempt was first made successfully to isolate MD virus (MDV) directly in culture of kidney cells 3 weeks after inoculation. Horizontal infection was first detected 4 weeks after inoculation. From 3 weeks after inoculation on, the disease with almost the same clinical and pathological pictures as the infection with a virulent strain of MDV showed a high incidence. Morbidity was closely related to the number of MSB-1 line cells inoculated. Parenchymal destruction was conspicuous in the central lymphoid organs of four chicks given the largest number of MSB-1 line cells and sacrificed in extremis about 4 weeks after inoculation. Establishment of MD in chicks inoculated with MSB-1 line cells carrying MDV genome seemed to be initiated under the circumstances where the line cells which had come into contact with susceptible cells in the peritoneal cavity released virulent MDV per se. Then host chicks might be infected with MDV and suffer from MD at a high rate. There was no great difference in oncogenic potential between MSB-1 line cells cultivated in vitro for 180 days and virulent MDV serially passaged through one-day-old chicks.     

Demonstration of cells with Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen in chicks infected with herpesvirus of turkey, O1 strain.

The presence of Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA) was demonstrated by the direct and indirect membrane immunofluorescent tests, in chicks inoculated 7-10 days earlier with herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), O1 strain. In in vitro cultures of spleen lymphocytes and ovaries obtained from these chicks, MATSA-positive cells were also detected after 1-7 days cultivation. A possible mechanism of protection by HVT vaccine against Marek's disease is proposed.     

一株具有急性致瘤特性的马立克氏病病毒的分离与鉴定

应用鸭胚成纤维细胞(DEF)从免疫过CVI988/Rispens疫苗株患马立克氏病(MD)的三黄鸡中分离到一株马立克氏病病毒(MDV)(命名为YL040920株)。从该分离株蚀斑克隆获得的9个克隆在蚀斑形成时间及其形态大小上均无明显差别,表明它较为单一;应用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)技术扩增并测定了毒株的致瘤相关基因meq的核苷酸序列,并与其他MDV-1参考毒株的序列进行比较分析,发现其序列具有MDV-1强毒株的特征;用基于抗MDV-1 MEQ蛋白的单克隆抗体3G12E6的免疫荧光试验(FA)对毒株的DEF培养物进行检测,发现有特异性的荧光定位于细胞核内;应用毒株感染霞烟鸡,最早在接种后(PI)21d即可诱发明显的内脏器官,在各器官肿瘤中以心脏、肝脏和皮肤的肿瘤发生率最高;用禽肿瘤病三重PCR鉴别诊断技术对毒株的DEF培养物以及感染鸡的内脏器官组织进行检测,均能扩增到MDV-1强毒株的特异性带,而网状内皮增生症病毒(REV)和禽白血病病毒(ALV)的检测则均为阴性。研究的结果表明,分离株YL040920为单一的MDV-1强毒株,无REV、ALV以及疫苗株CVI988/Rispens的混杂,并具有以心脏、肝脏和皮肤肿瘤为主的急性致瘤特性。     

昆虫细胞表达的网状内皮组织增殖症病毒囊膜糖蛋白及其免疫性

利用Bac-to-BacBaculovirusExpressionSystems构建了能表达禽网状内皮组织增殖症病毒(REV)囊膜糖蛋白基因(env)的重组杆状病毒。用REV特异性单克隆抗体分别做间接免疫荧光抗体试验(IFA)和免疫转印试验,均可从感染的Sf9昆虫细胞中检出REVenv。重组杆状病毒感染的Sf9细胞裂解后制备成油乳疫苗免疫SPF鸡后,可以诱发维持45d以上的特异性抗REV抗体,并可抵抗REV病毒感染。     

接种不同毒力的马立克氏病病毒后鸡病毒血症的动态比较

1日龄非免疫鸡分别接 马立克氏病病毒（MDV）Ⅰ强毒GA株、Ⅰ型MDV疫苗毒CVI988株和Ⅲ型火鸡疱疹病毒（HVT）疫苗株后第4日起,定期采血并和抗MDV囊膜糖蛋白B(gB)单克隆抗体介导的间接免疫荧光试验检测MDV在外周因液单核细胞（PBMCs）中的感染状况。结果发现,自接种Ⅰ型强毒GA株后第4日至鸡发病死亡前,都能检出GA株引起的病毒血症,并于2周左右达到高峰;自接种CVI988株后第4日至第20日止,能检出病毒血症,并于第8天左右达到高峰;自接种HVT后第4日至第16日止,能检出病毒血症,并于第6天左右达到高峰。与此同时,将GA株病毒血症的IFA检测结果与细胞培养上病毒空班计数试验结果比较,发现IFA试验比空斑计数试验更为敏感。本试验既可用于判断对鸡作MDV疫苗免疫的接种效果,又可用于检测MDV野毒感染状态。     

Construction of Recombinant HVT Expressing PmpD,and Immunological Evaluation against Chlamydia psittaci and Marek’s Disease Virus

Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) is an obligate intracellular zoonotic pathogen that can be transmitted to humans from birds. No efficacious commercial vaccine is available for clearing chlamydial infection due to lack of potential vaccine candidates and effective delivery vehicles. Herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) is an efficacious commercially available vaccine against Marek’s Disease virus (MDV). In this study, a recombinant HVT-delivered vaccine against C. psittaci and Marek’s disease was developed and examined. The 5''-terminus of pmpD gene (pmpD-N) encoding the N-terminal fragment of polymorphic membrane protein D of C. psittaci was inserted into a nonessential region of HVT genome using reverse genetics based on an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone of HVT. The recombinant virus (rHVT-pmpD-N) was recovered from primary chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells by transfection of modified HVT BAC DNA containing the pmpD-N gene. The rHVT-pmpD-N construct was confirmed to express PmpD-N by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. The rHVT-pmpD-N was stable during 20 passages in vitro. The growth kinetics of rHVT-pmpD-N was comparable to that of parental HVT in vitro and in vivo. One-day-old SPF chickens inoculated subcutaneously with rHVT-pmpD-N displayed increased PmpD-specific antibody levels and a vigorous PmpD-specific lymphocyte proliferation response using HVT vector or CEF cells as control. Furthermore, the percentage of CD4+ cells was significantly elevated in rHVT-pmpD-N-immunized birds as compared to the parental HVT. All chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pmpD-N or parental HVT were protected completely against challenge with a very virulent strain of Marek’s Disease virus (MDV) RB-1B. Post challenge with C. psittaci CB7 strain, a significant decrease in respiratory distress, lesions and Chlamydia load was found in the rHVT-pmpD-N-vaccinated group compared to the parental HVT. In conclusion, our study suggests that the rHVT-pmpD-N live vaccine may be viable as a candidate dual vaccine that provides protection against both very virulent MDV and C. psittaci.     

网状内皮增生病病毒感染SPF鸡对疫苗免疫反应的抑制作用

我国鸡群中网状内皮增生病病毒(REV)感染已相当普遍,但对其造成的实际危害却不太清楚。本研究结果表明,1日龄SPF鸡感染REV会显著抑制对新城疫病毒(NDV)和禽流感病毒(AIV,H5和H9)疫苗的免疫反应。1周龄用相应灭活疫苗免疫后3周、4周和5周,REV感染组对不同病毒疫苗免疫后的HI效价显著低于对照组。高剂量REV感染组的抑制作用大于低剂量感染组,但统计学差异不显著。REV感染可造成中枢免疫器官萎缩,REV感染组的胸腺、法氏囊与体重比显著低于对照组。本研究证明了,REV早期感染会干扰鸡群对NDV、AIV的免疫效果,特别是会严重干扰对AIV疫苗的免疫效果。     

Expression of HA of HPAI H5N1 virus at US2 gene insertion site of turkey herpesvirus induced better protection than that at US10 gene insertion site

Herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) is being widely used as a vector for development of recombinant vaccines and US2 and US10 genes are often chosen as insertion sites for targeted gene expression. However, the different effects of the two genes for generation of recombinant HVT vaccines were unknown. In order to compare the effects of inserted genes in the two sites on the efficacy of the recombinant vaccines, host-protective haemagglutinin (HA) gene of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 was inserted into either US2 or US10 gene locus of the HVT. The resulting US2 (rHVT-US2-HA) or US10 (rHVT-US10-HA) recombinant HVT viruses were used to infect chicken embryo fibroblasts. Plaques and the growth kinetics of rHVT-US2-HA-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts were similar to those of parental HVT whereas rHVT-US10-HA infected chicken embryo fibroblasts had different growth kinetics and plaque formation. The viremia levels in rHVT-US10-HA virus-infected chickens were significantly lower than those of rHVT-US2-HA group on 28 days post infection. The vaccine efficacy of the two recombinant viruses against H5N1 HPAIV and virulent Marek's disease virus was also evaluated in 1-day-old vaccinated chickens. rHVT-US2-HA-vaccinated chickens were better protected with reduced mortality than rHVT-US10-HA-vaccinated animals following HPAIV challenge. Furthermore, the overall hemaglutination inhibition antibody titers of rHVT-US2-HA-vaccinated chickens were higher than those of rHVT-US10-HA-vaccinated chickens. Protection levels against Marek's disease virus challenge following vaccination with either rHVT-US2-HA or rHVT-US10-HA, however, were similar to those of the parental HVT virus. These results, for the first time, indicate that US2 gene provides a favorable foreign gene insertion site for generation of recombinant HVT vaccines.     

Persistence of genomes of both herpesvirus of turkeys and Marek's disease virus in a chicken T-lymphoblastoid cell line

A cell line tentatively designated as MDCC-BO1(T), was established from spleen cells of an apparently healthy chicken inoculated with herpesvirus of turkey (HVT). BO1(T) cells were T lymphoblastoid cells and the more than 95% of them had Marek's disease (MD) tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA). However, no viral internal antigens or membrane antigens could be demonstrated in them by immunofluorescence tests using chicken anti-HVT and -MD virus (MDV) sera. The virus could be rescued from BO1(T) cells by co-cultivation with chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). The DNA of the rescued virus was characterized as HVT DNA by its sedimentation profile in a neutral glycerol gradient and its endonuclease Hind III cleavage-pattern. Ultrastructural studies on CEF infected with the rescued virus revealed the presence of HVT-like virions. However, DNA-DNA reassociation kinetics showed that the BO1(T) cells contained a few copies of NVT and also MDV genomes.     

Monoclonal antibodies with specificity for three different serotypes of Marek's disease viruses in chickens

A total of 50 antibody-secreting hybridoma cells against Marek's disease virus (MDV) and turkey herpesvirus (HVT) have been produced. Eleven hybridomas were used for serotyping a panel of 15 pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of MDV and HVT, representing three serotypes. The antibodies from the culture medium have fluorescence antibody (FA) titers of up to 100 and those from mouse ascitic fluid have titers ranging from 10(4) to 10(6). Monoclonal antibody T81 is type-common, i.e., it reacts at equal titer with all MDV and HVT tested. Of the remaining 10 antibodies, eight react only with pathogenic and attenuated strains of MDV (presumably serotype 1), one reacts only with nonpathogenic MDV (presumably) serotype 2), and one reacts only with strains of HVT (presumably serotype 3). Two hybridomas belong to IgG2a and IgG2b subclasses, respectively, and the remaining nine belong to IgG1 subclass. None of the antibodies specific for MDV strains reacted with homologous viruses in serum neutralization (SN), agar gel precipitin (AGP), or membrane immunofluorescence tests. Antibody L78, which is specific for HVT, was reactive with its homologous virus in the SN test; antibody from the culture medium showed an SN titer of 10 and that from mouse ascites a titer of 10,000. None of the antibodies specific for MDV or HVT reacted with other avian or mammalian herpesviruses, avian leukosis viruses (ALV), reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REV), or Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA) expressed in a lymphoblastoid cell line, MDCC-MSB-1.     

Characterization of M gene-deficient rabies virus with advantages of effective immunization and safety as a vaccine strain

Matrix (M) protein of rabies virus is known to play an important role in assembly and budding of the progeny virus. We generated an M gene-deficient rabies virus, RC-HLDeltaM, using a reverse genetics system of rabies virus RC-HL strain to develop a novel type of vaccine. RC-HLDeltaM infection was confined within a single cell in mouse neuroblastoma cells. This deficient virus failed to generate the progeny virus in the cells. In contrast, RC-HLDeltaM propagated in BHK cells inductively expressing M protein. Suckling and adult mice inoculated intracerebrally with the parental RC-HL strain showed lethal infection and transient body weight loss, respectively, whereas both suckling and adult mice inoculated with RC-HLDeltaM showed no symptoms. The neutralizing antibody against rabies virus was successfully induced by intramuscular immunization with 10(5) focus-forming units of RC-HLDeltaM but not UV-inactivated RC-HL. Intranasal immunization with RC-HLDeltaM resulted in almost the same antibody titer to rabies virus as that in the case of immunization with live RC-HL strain. These findings indicate that RC-HLDeltaM is a candidate for a novel rabies vaccine that is safer and more effective than are current vaccines.     

Immunofluorescence in the Study of Marek''s Disease: I. Detection of Antigen in Cell Culture and an Antigenic Comparison of Eight Isolates 1

The indirect fluorescent-antibody (FA) test was applied to the detection of Marek's disease (MD) antigen in cell culture and antibody in the serum of birds. For the detection of antigen, sera were obtained from birds hyperimmunized with the JM strain of MD. MD antigen could be detected in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of duck and chick embryo fibroblasts and in those of chick kidney cells infected with material known to contain the MD virus. Uninoculated cultures of chicken cells were always free of MD antigen. When chick kidney cells were infected with a stock cellular preparation of MD virus, infected cells could be detected after 24 hr with the FA test. At this time no cytopathological areas were seen by conventional light microscopy. By 7 days after infection, the same number of infected areas were detected by both methods, and the fluorescent areas coincided with the cytopathological areas. This indicates that the fluorescent areas and the areas with cytopathology are caused by the same agent. A straight-line relationship between the dilution of inoculum and the number of fluorescent or morphological foci obtained indicates that one infectious unit produced one fluorescent or morphological focus. In addition, this time sequence study confirmed the cell association of the virus and demonstrated the cell-to-cell spread of infection. Cell cultures inoculated with eight different isolates of MD were tested in all combinations with sera prepared against the same isolates. The antigens were indistinguishable from one another, indicating that either the strains are antigenically identical or there is a common antigen or contaminant in all of them so that they stained equally well. The FA test can detect MD antigen before cytopathological areas develop in cell culture; however, the small size of the area usually examined precludes its use in initial isolations in which only a small number of infectious units are present in the inoculum. MD-infected cells contain a heat-stable antigen similar to that found in herpes simplex-infected cells.     

表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组马立克氏病病毒的构建

将禽流感病毒M2基因克隆于真核表达质粒pIRES-EGFP中,使其位于pCMV启动子的调控下,并与绿色荧光蛋白基因（EGFP）串联后,将上述串联基因插入到含MDV CVI988的非必需区US基因的重组质粒pUS2中,构建带标记的重组质粒,然后将此重组质粒转染感染了MDV CVI988的鸡胚成纤维细胞,利用同源重组的方法,筛选了表达禽流感病毒M2基因的重组病毒MDV1。经PCR、Dot-blotting,Western-blotting等实验的结果表明,禽流感病毒M2基因的确插入到MDV1（CVI988）基因组中并获得表达。重组MDV1免疫1日龄SPF鸡21天后,用ELISA可检测到M2蛋白的特异性抗体。接种了重组病毒rMDV的鸡体内针对H9N2疫苗血凝素的抗体滴度(p<0.05)明显提高,以禽流感病毒AIV A/Chicken/Guangdong/00（H9N2）攻毒后进行病毒重分离试验的结果发现,重组病毒能有效地降低病毒的排出量(p<0.01),说明该重组病毒可以用于防制禽流感的免疫。     

分子克隆化禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒传染性及其前病毒全基因组序列研究

利用脂质体转染技术,将含有SNV株禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒 （REV）前病毒全基因组cDNA克隆质粒转染鸡胚成纤维细胞（CEF）.用对REV的单克隆抗体和抗REV env-gp90的鼠血清作间接免疫荧光反应,在原始的转染细胞及随后传代的细胞中均显示病毒特异性抗原.而且,在连续传代细胞中的阳性率明显升高.用REV特异性引物对进一步传代后的细胞基因组作PCR,也检测出REV基因组.这些结果均表明所得到的分子克隆化病毒具有传染性,因而也进一步证明所用的质粒克隆包含有具感染性的全病毒基因组.对该全基因组cDNA克隆进行酶切所获得的数个亚克隆进行测序,并将序列进行拼接,完成了REV全基因组序列.REV的这个传染性克隆将有助于进一步研究REV的分子生物学特性.     

Protective Effect of Avian Myelomonocytic Growth Factor in Infection with Marek’s Disease Virus

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus that induces T lymphomas in chickens. The aim of this study was to assess the role of the macrophage activator chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF) in controlling MDV infection. B13/B13 chickens, which are highly susceptible to MD, were either treated with cMGF delivered via a live fowlpox virus (fp/cMGF) or treated with the parent vector (fp/M3) or were left as untreated controls. Seven days later, when challenged with the very virulent RB-1B strain of MDV, the spleens of chickens treated with fp/cMGF showed increased expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene compared to those of control chickens and fp/M3-treated chickens. Increased iNOS gene expression was also accompanied by greater induction of gamma interferon and macrophage inflammatory protein (K203) gene expression, both possible activators of iNOS. fp/cMGF treatment also increased the number of monocytes and systemic NO production in contrast to fp/M3 treatment. Even though cMGF treatment was unable to prevent death for the chickens, it did prolong their survival time, and viremia and tumor incidence were greatly reduced. In addition, cMGF treatment improved the partial protection induced by vaccination with HVT (herpesvirus isolated from turkeys) against RB-1B, preventing 100% mortality (versus 66% with vaccination alone) and greatly reducing tumor development. Treatment with fp/M3 did not have such effects. These results suggest that cMGF may play multiple roles in protection against MD. First, it may enhance the innate immune response by increasing the number and activity of monocytes and macrophages, resulting in increased NO production. Second, it may enhance the acquired immune response, indicated by its ability to enhance vaccine efficacy.     

Comparative efficacy of a canine distemper-measles and a standard measles vaccine for immunization of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Measles virus (MV), a highly infective paramyxovirus, has caused sporadic epizootics characterized by high morbidity and increased mortality in nonhuman primates. Measles vaccines for human use, although effective, are cost prohibitive for use in primate colonies. We compared the efficacy of one or two doses of Vanguard D-M, a canine distemper-measles (CD-M) vaccine, with a single dose of Attenuvax, a human measles vaccine. Compared with 81% of animals inoculated with Attenuvax, all animals inoculated with one or two doses of Vanguard developed detectable MV antibodies. One year after immunization, six juveniles from each vaccine group, along with three unvaccinated controls, were challenged with pathogenic MV and were monitored for clinical signs of disease, viremia, viral shedding, and immune response. All uninoculated controls developed clinical disease and viremia, and shed virus in nasopharangeal secretions. Subclinical viremia without viral shedding was identified in two Attenuvax- and two single-dose Vanguard-inoculated animals. Viremia was not detected in any two-dose Vanguard-inoculated animals. Significantly higher neutralization antibody titers were observed in animals receiving Vanguard. Results of this study indicate that Vanguard is at least as efficacious as Attenuvax for protection of rhesus macaques. The considerably lower cost of Vanguard makes vaccination against measles in large breeding colonies economically feasible.     

Enterovirus 71-Induced Neurological Disorders in Young Gerbils,Meriones unguiculatus: Development and Application of a Neurological Disease Model

A reliable disease model mimicking Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection in humans is essential for understanding pathogenesis and for developing a safe and effective vaccine. Commonly used rodent models including mouse or rat models are not suitable for vaccine evaluation because the rodents are resistant to EV71 infection after they reach the age of 6 days. In this study, 21-day-old gerbils inoculated intraperitoneally (IP) with a non mouse-adapted EV71 strain developed neurological lesion-related signs including hind limb paralysis, slowness, ataxia and lethargy similar to those of central nervous system (CNS) infection of EV71 in humans. The infected gerbils eventually died of the neurological lesions and EV71 could be isolated from lung, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, spinal cord, brain cortex, brainstem and skeletal muscle. Significantly high virus replication was detected in spinal cord, brainstem and skeletal muscle by cellular analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining. Histopathologic changes such as neuronal degeneration, neuronal loss and neuronophagia were observed in spinal cord, brain cortex, brainstem, and skeletal muscle along with necrotizing myositis and splenic atrophy. Gerbils that received two doses of inactive whole-virus vaccine showed no EV71-specific symptoms after challenged with EV71. In contrast, gerbils that received mock vaccination died of EV71-induced neuropathology after challenged with EV71. The result indicates that gerbils can serve as a reliable disease model for evaluating safety and efficacy of EV71 vaccine.     

Susceptibility of chickens to avian encephalomyelitis virus. II. Behavior of the virus in day-old chicks.

The VR strain of avian encephalomyelitis virus, which had been adapted to embryonated hen's eggs, was inoculated into 2-day-old chicks by the subcutaneous route (10(2.5) approximately 10(3.0) EID50) or by the oral route (10(4.8) EID50). The chicks were examined chronologically for the distribution of the virus in the body. As a result, minute amounts of the virus were detected from the liver, spleen, pancreas, and muscle at the site of inoculation one day after inoculation and various amounts from almost all the organs 3 days and more after inoculation. The virus titer could nearly reach a maximum 7 to 9 days after inoculation. Above all, such high virus titers as ranging from 10(4.3) to 10(5.8) EID50/0.1 g were demonstrated in the brain, heart, liver, spleen, and pancreas. After that, there was a tendency for virus titer to decrease in most organs and for virus to multiply persistently in the pancreas, brain, and eyeball. Virus titer was maintained at a level of 10(2.3) approximately 10(2.8) EID50/0.1 g in these three organs even 21 days after inoculation. In the group of subcutaneous inoculation, all the chicks manifested clinical signs of infection 5 to 10 days after inoculation. On the other hand, no chicks were involved in clinical infection in the group of oral inoculation. Multiplication of the virus was delayed in the body of these chicks. Small amounts of the virus were detected from the spleen and pancreas 11 days after inoculation. Low titers (10(2.7) EID50/0.1 g at the highest) of the virus were only detected from the brain, spinal cord, spleen, pancreas, esophagus, and other organs 14 and 21 days after inoculation.