Serological and phylogenetic analysis indicating prevalence of fowl adenovirus in China
Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs), which belong to the genus  Aviadenovirus  in the Adenoviridae family, are grouped into five species named Fowl adenovirus A–E ( FAdV-A to FAdV - E ) and 12 serotypes (1–11, 8a, 8b) based on genome sequencing and virus neutralisation, respectively. FAdVs are responsible for a wide range of clinical signs, including hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and gizzard erosion (GE).1 HHS is primarily caused by the FAdV-4 serotype and causes more than 30 per cent mortality.2 3 IBH is related to the multiserotype of FAdVs and leads to 10–30 per cent mortality in chickens. Some FAdV-1 strains are responsible for GE.1 3

Cases of IBH or HHS have been increasing rapidly, resulting in great economic losses worldwide.3–8 In the present study, we determined the prevalence of FAdV infections in chicken flocks in China by serological analysis and characterised the genotypic distribution among the FAdV strains previously reported in China in GenBank database by phylogenetic analysis. Our findings could provide implications for a promising control measure and vaccination strategy for FAdV infection in the poultry industry.

To evaluate the prevalence of FAdV infections in China, a total of 4544 serum samples were collected from 119 different non-vaccinated chicken flocks in 2014–2016. These samples were localised in 13 provinces or cities in …
Developing an Indirect ELISA Based on Recombinant Hexon Protein for Serological Detection of Inclusion Body Hepatitis in Chickens
ABSTRACT Fowl adenovirus (FAdv) serotype 2 causes inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) disease which adversely affects the broiler industry in Thailand. We developed an indirect ELISA based on the recombinant hexon protein produced by E. coli. The recombinant hexon protein was tested with sera, in both infected and noninfected chickens. The recombinant hexon protein was standardized with an antigen concentration of 3.75 µg/ml and test sera. The intra- and inter-assays were repeatable. The cutoff value from TG-ROC curve analysis was 0.106. The specificity and sensitivity were 80 and 80%, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) of absorbance values from this ELISA compared with the serum neutralization test was 0.76. This ELISA might be helpful for IBH diagnosis and surveillance.
Axonal sensorimotor neuropathy in patients with β-thalassaemia
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in patients with β-thalassaemia. Methods: Thirty six patients with a mean age of 29.2±8.2 years and 17 healthy controls with a mean age of 27.6±9.1 were included in this study. Measurements included the neuropathy symptoms score (NSS), the neuropathy disability score (NDS) as well as nerve conduction studies of two motor (ulnar and peroneal) and two sensory (ulnar and sural) nerves of the right limbs. Results: A mainly sensory axonal polyneuropathy was present in 19 out of 36 patients (52.7%). Eight out of these 19 patients also had abnormal NDS values. The neuropathy correlated significantly with the age of the patients and the hematocrit. However, it did not correlate with the presence of antibodies against HCV, the ferritin levels, or with a history of transfusions, desferrioxamine treatment, or splenectomy. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of a predominantly sensory neuropathy in patients with β-thalassaemia. The electrophysiological data suggest that the underlying pathology is an axonopathy. Chronic hypoxia of the nerves resulting from severe anaemia may contribute to the pathogenesis of this neuropathy.