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Duck hepatitis virus 1

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

691956

2. Disease:

Duck virus hepatitis (DVH)

3. Introduction

Duck viral hepatitis is an acute, highly contagious, viral disease of young ducklings characterized by a short incubation period, sudden onset, high mortality, and characteristic liver lesions. The disease is of economic importance in all duck-raising areas of the world. Three distinct types of duck hepatitis virus (DHV) have been isolated from diseased ducklings.The originally described, most widespread, and most virulent DHV Type I is an enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae and is readily propagated in chick and duck embryos. It does not produce hemagglutinins. Field experience with DHV Type I indicates that egg transmission does not occur. The disease can be transmitted experimentally by parenteral or oral administration of infected tissues. Viruses differing from classic DHV Type I have been recognized as causes of hepatitis in ducklings. DHV Type II is considered to be an astrovirus and is difficult to propagate under laboratory conditions; DHV Type III is a member of the Picornaviridae, is antigenically distinct from Type I virus, and can be propagated in duck (but not chick) embryos. A distinct serologic variant of DHV Type I, named DHV Type Ia, has also been described (Merck Vet Manual: Duck Viral Hepatitis).

4. Host Ranges and Animal Models

A natural outbreak of DHV Type I has been reported in mallard ducklings; experimental DHV Type I infections have been produced in goslings, turkey poults, young pheasants, quail, and guinea fowl. The viruses that cause hepatitis in ducklings should not be confused with duck hepatitis B virus, a hepadnavirus infection of older ducks (Merck Vet Manual: Duck Viral Hepatitis).

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