Turkey Viral Hepatitis

Turkey viral hepatitis (TVH) is an acute to subacute highly contagious viral disease of young turkeys younger 6 weeks old, characterized by hepatitis and pancreatitis. The turkey hepatitis virus of the family Picornaviridae causes the disease. The main clinical signs are stunted growth, high morbidity rate (100%), and mortality rates of 25%. In breeders, the disease causes a drop in egg production. On necropsy, TVH is characterized by pale white necrotic foci in the liver, hepatomegaly, necrosis in the pancreas, and enteritis. Diagnosis is based on the microscopic lesions in the liver and pancreas, including multifocal necrosis and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrations. Definitive diagnosis can be done using RT-PCR and virus isolation in embryonated chicken eggs. To date, there is no treatment or vaccination commercially available.