Isolation and identification of a turkey respiratory adenovirus

A virus with physical and biological characteristics of an adenovirus was isolated from turkey poults with respiratory disease. The virus was ether-resistant and incorporated [3H] thymidine. Electron microscopy revealed virions of icosahedral configuration, approximately 78 nm in diameter, within the nuclei of infected cells. The virus produced cytopathology in turkey kidney cells, but did not produce observable disease when inoculated into commercial turkey poults or specific-pathogen-free embryonated chicken eggs. Virus-neutralization tests indicated widespread exposure to the virus in North Carolina turkey populations.