Characteristics and pathogenicity of two avian reoviruses isolated from chickens with leg problems

Two reoviruses identified as 172 and 176 were isolated from the hock of 2-to-3-week-old broiler breeders exhibiting leg problems. Oral-ocular or intraplantar inoculation of day-old specific-pathogen-free or broiler chickens produced severe mortality (60-100%) within 2 to 6 days. The main lesions observed were tenosynovitis as well as necrosis and congestion of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bursa of Fabricius.