The effect of intranasal exposure of chickens to the Fahey-Crawley virus on the development of synovial lesions.

SUMMARY Chickens were exposed to Fahey-Crawley virus via the respiratory route. No gross lesions developed in the inoculated birds but one contact control showed a slight swelling in the digital flexor tendons. Microscopic examination of the synovium taken from the metatarsal region revealed inflammatory changes in about half of the birds at 3 weeks but in only one at 7 weeks postinoculation (PI). The number of synovial smears with inflammatory cells and the number of virus isolations from the synovia were greater at 3 weeks than at 7 weeks PI.