In situ hybridization for the detection of chicken anaemia virus in experimentally-induced infection and field outbreaks.

A double stranded DNA probe, biotinylated by random priming, was used for in situ hybridization of chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in thymus tissue. Hybridization was visualized with an alkaline phosphatase conjugated streptavidin biotin complex and the substrate New Fuchsin. The test was performed on both uninfected and CAV-, adenovirus- or infectious bursal disease virus-infected specified pathogen free White Leghorn chickens. In addition, both healthy commercial broilers and broilers with blue wing disease or with colisepticemia, were tested. Genomic CAV was detected in all CAV-infected and blue wing-diseased chickens. With the exception of one chicken with colisepticemia, which showed a unexpectedly positive reaction, all control chickens tested negative in the test developed.