Isolation, identification and molecular characterization of Inclusion body hepatitis virus

Inclusion body hepatitis caused by avian adenovirus with highly pathogenic strain lead to heavy mortality and unusual lesion like hydropericardium in commercial broilers. Samples were collected from an outbreak in 12000 broiler flock from Andhra Pradesh with sudden high mortality initiated from 32 days of age. Liver was enlarged and showed petechae. Hydropericardium was extensive. 10% liver suspension inoculated to SPF chicks produced mortality with hydropericardium and showed presence of intranuclear inclusions in the hepatocytes. Viral DNA extracted from infected liver processed for PCR produced an amplicon of 890 bp. Nucleotide sequence analysis using blast programme of NCBI showed 99% identity with fowl adenovirus.