(AE) is a worldwide viral disease
of Japanese quail, turkeys, chickens and pheasants, characterized by ataxia and
tremor of the head, neck and limbs. The causative agent is Picornavirus and
can be grown in chicken embryos from nonimmune hens. It is transmitted for
approximately 1 week through a portion of eggs laid by infected hens and then spreads
laterally in the hatchers or brooder to susceptible hatchmates. Avian encephalomyelitis
must be differentiated from avian encephalomalacia (viamin E deficiency), rickets.
vitamin B deficiency, Newcastle disease, eastern encephalitis, Marek's disease and
encephalitis caused by bacteria, fungi (e.g. aspergillosis) or Mycoplasma.
Serologic testing of paired samples is helpful, using virus neutralization or (ELISA).
