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A review if presented of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis, one of the clinical manifestations of avian reovirus infection in chickens. Since the detection of a viral etiology of arthritis/tenosynovitis in 1957, the disease has been reported in various parts of the world. Pathological features of the disease include inflammatory lesions in the extensor and flexor tendons and tendon sheaths of the posterior limbs and in the tibiotarsal joints. Hepatitis, myocarditis, hydropericardium, as well as intestinal and respiratory tract involvement are described in association with avian reovirus infection. The epizootiology, horizontal and vertical transmission of reovirus, as well as the role of maternal immunity and its application in breeder vaccination for the control of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis are described.

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An infectious agent was isolated from leg tendons of broiler breeders with clinical tenosynovitis. The agent grew well on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonating chicken eggs and was filterable through a 0.22-Ft filter. Typical gross and microscopic lesions of tenosynovitis could be reproduced in broiler chicks via oral, subcutaneous, or intra-abdominal routes, as well as in contact control chicks. Precipitating antibodies against the homologous agent as well as two other avian reoviruses were present beginning 14 days postinoculation. Negative control chicks developed no lesions or antibodies. The isolate showed antigenic identity with three known avian reoviruses when tested against antiserum in the agar-gel precipitin (AGP) test.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with high sensitivity was developed for use in the avian system. Anti-reovirus antibody produced in chickens against the isolants S1133, UMI-203, Reo-25, and Winterfield were detected with this method at high titers (up to 1:14,000).