Presence of parvoviruses in the intestine of chickens showing stunting syndrome.

Small viral particles of 19 to 24 nm in diameter with a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.43 g/ml were detected electron microscopically in samples taken from the gut of 10-day-old chickens suffering from a stunting syndrome. The viral particles are suggested to belong to the Parvoviridae and their possible role in the stunting syndrome is discussed.