The detection of turkey rhinotracheitis virus antigen in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue using a...

The detection of turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) virus antigen in both formalin-and Bouin's-fixed paraffin embedded tissue using a streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase staining technique is described. TRT antigen was detected in Bouin's-fixed tissue without prior treatment with proteolytic enzymes. However, demonstration of TRT antigen in formalin-fixed tissue was only achieved after pretreatment with protease XIV. Viral antigen was seen in the ciliated epithelial cells of trachea and turbinates from naturally occurring and experimentally infected cases of TRT and in the surface epithelial cells of the uterus of experimentally infected laying turkeys. This technique should enable detailed pathological studies of TRT in turkeys and swollen head syndrome in chickens.