Isolation of a new serotype of avian reovirus associated with malabsorption syndrome in chickens

This paper describes the isolation and identification of a novel class of reoviruses, the so-called enteric reovirus strains (ERS). The pathogenicity, dissemination, induction of malabsorption syndrome (MAS), reaction pattern with different monoclonal antibodies, and serotype properties are reported. Upon screening of reoviruses in the field, it was observed that these reovirus strains were also present in other countries and were usually isolated from birds with MAS. Based on the data presented here, it is proposed that the so-called ERS are associated with MAS.