Persistence and vertical transmission of chicken anaemia agent in experimentally infected laying hens

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Abstract
Irrespective of route of infection and age of hens at infection chicken anaemia agent (CAA) was excreted via faeces repeatedly during the first 5 weeks postinfection. Eggs, embryos and chicks of hens infected as chicks were free of CAA, but CAA was found in a small number of embryos and hatched chicks of hens infected during the laying period. Re‐infection of hens resulted in shedding of CAA via the faeces for a period of 4 days, but no CAA was found in eggs, embryos and chicks. Immunofluorescent and serum neutralization antibody against CAA were demonstrated 2 weeks post‐infection. They persisted for at least 6 months. Reinfection with CAA led to a significant increase of both immunofluorescent and serum neutralization antibody titres.