Antigenic characterization of the inclusion body hepatitis virus

Proof that inclusion body hepatitis of chickens (IBHC) is caused by a virus (IBHV) was established in 1973. Characterization of IBHV has been conducted by employing the standard criteria for virus classification. The results have indicated that IBHV is a member of the avian adenovirus group. However, no antigenic relationship was found between IBHV and two other avian adenovirus isolates (CELO and Indiana C) as observed by hemagglutination (HA) and virus-serum neutralization tests. Another adenovirus isolate was found to be serologically different from IBHV (Tipton strain) but it incited typical IBHC in susceptible chicks. A novel antigen, detectable by the agar gel immunodiffusion test, was demonstrated in livers from chicks infected experimentally with IBHV. This antigen was able to give a specific precipitin reaction with serums from chickens previously exposed to IBHV. Repeated embryo passage of IBHV lowered its pathogenicity for susceptible chickens. Protection of chickens against IBHV challenge was obtained by vaccination with high embryo passage IBHV (Tipton strain). It was also found that subcutaneous administration of the vaccine virus induced a better immune response than the eye-drop route as observed by the virus-serum neutralization index obtained.