Antibodies against EDS-76 avian adenovirus in bird species before 1975.

A retrospective serological survey was performed to demonstrate HI antibodies against EDS-76 virus in sera collected between 1964 to 1975 from domesticated and wild birds. No antibody to EDS virus was detected in the chicken, pheasant and turkey sera. However, HI antibodies to EDS-76 virus could be demonstrated in sera from domestic ducks (60%), wild ducks (59%), geese (70%) and herring gulls (20%). The presence of antibodies indicates that the EDS-76 virus existed in waterfowls prior to 1975. This supports the concept of McFerran that the EDS-76 virus is a duck adenovirus.