Histopathology of inclusion body hepatitis in chickens

Visceral organs from 5-week-old broiler chickens with naturally occuring inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) were examined histologically. Common pathological features of the disease included: degeneration and necrosis of hepatic cells accompanied with intranuclear inclusion body formation of interstitial connective tissue in the bursa of Fabricius, necrosis and depletion of lymphoid tissue in the spleen, and necrosis of renal tubule epithelium. Avian adenoviruses belonging to FAV-1, FAV-5 and FAV-8 serotypes were isolated from the liver and intestine of the infected chickens