Molecular characterization of highly virulent fowl adenoviruses associated with outbreaks of inclusion body hepatitis

Restriction enzyme analysis of DNA was used to characterize fowl adenoviruses (FAVs) consistently associated with outbreaks of acute inclusion body hepatitis. When low doses of these FAVs were administered via a natural route to chickens they caused IBH. A strong genomic relationship was demonstrated between these virulent FAVs. In contrast, the genomes of serologically related, but non-virulent or mildly virulent FAVs were found to differ substantially from those of the virulent FAVs.