Effect of Experimental Duck Virus Hepatitis Infection on Some Biochemical Constituents and Enzymes in the Serum of White Pekin Ducklings

Experimental duck virus hepatitis infection of 11-day-old white Pekin ducklings having specific maternal antibodies revealed significant changes in some biochemical constituents and enzymes of the serum during the 3 weeks following exposure. These changes included a marked decrease in the total proteins and the albumin fraction, together with a significant elevation in levels of alkaline phosphatase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, bilirubin, and creatinine. Most of these changes were attributed primarily to a deranged liver function associated with duck virus hepatitis infection.