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Summary An outbreak is reported of inclusion body hepatitis in psittacines from a private aviary, in which several birds aged between 35 and 75 days had died without showing any clinical signs. Histological examination of the livers revealed severe hepatic damage with presence of large basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies. Avian adenoviruses were isolated from the affected livers. Characterization of the isolates by means of restriction endonuclease analysis showed that they were similar to reference strain SR49 (serotype 3) which is associated with inclusion body hepatitis in chickens. This finding was confirmed by the virus neutralization test.

Twenty-seven cases of nephroblastoma were observed in 54 culled light meat broilers during a 1-year period. The tumours were generally unilateral and varied in size. Metastases were not observed. Histopathological studies showed epithelial and mesenchymal structures at different stages of development. Ultramicroscopy and immunohistochemistry findings revealed viral particles in intercellular spaces and in the lumen of the tubules not morphologically unlike avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses.

This paper describes an outbreak of disease caused by Hafnia alvei in pullets. Cloudy swelling and the fatty degeneration of liver associated with splenic lymphocytic depletion were the most preminent lesions. The organism was identified by biochemical tests and by a Hafnia-specific bacteriophage test. Laying hens and pullets were infected experimentally with the organism by the oral and intraperitoneal route, and the clinical and pathological effects were similar to those observed in naturally infected subjects. The use of more sensitive diagnostic tests is suggested to avoid the possibility of a misdiagnosis due to similarities between this organism and Salmonella species. Resume Infection a Hafnia alvei chez des poulettes en Italie Cet article decrit un cas de maladie causee par Hafnia alvei chez des poulettes. Les lesions les plus preeminentes ont ete une degenerescence graisseuse du foie qui avait une apparence gonflee et marbree, et une depletion lymphocytaire au niveau de la rate. Le germe a ete id...

During a survey effected in a meat pigeon slaughterhouse of central Italy, atrophy of primary lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricius and thymus) and hypoplasia of bone marrow were observed. Histologic, ultrastructural, and hematologic examinations were performed on a total of 80 randomly selected 30-day-old meat pigeons. By histologic studies, lymphocytic depletion and necrosis with cyst formations in the bursa of Fabricius were detected in all subjects that showed thymus and bursa atrophy at necropsy. Basophilic intranuclear inclusions were also observed in bursal cells. After ultrastructural studies, these inclusions were proved to be viral particles resembling circoviruslike particles in morphology and size. Severe lymphocytic depletion of the bursa was plausibly associated with the presence of the viral particles.