Experimental infection of young and laying geese with egg drop syndrome 1976 adenovirus strain B8/78

Of 19 large flocks of geese in Hungary 15 were serologically positive to the egg drop syndrome 1976 (EDS-76) avian adenovirus strain B8/78. Sixty-five to 100% of the samples taken from each flock were positive with haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres between 1:8 and 1:256. All the progeny of geese with HI antibodies had maternally derived antibodies. After infection per os of 8-, 19- and 29-day-old goslings with the B8/78 strain of EDS-76 adenovirus clinical signs of disease and mortality were not seen although the birds developed antibodies and shed the virus in the faeces. No lesions were noted using light microscopy. Egg production was unaffected in geese experimentally infected with B8/78 virus strain and there was no change in egg quality. The layers developed antibodies to EDS-76 adenovirus and shed the virus in the faeces. Contact-controls responded in the same way. The results of these experiments suggest that when investigating the origin of EDS-76 avian adenovirus infection not only ducks but also geese should be considered as a potential source of infection.