− | Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) is commonly known as epidemic tremor in chickens. It is caused by ''Avian encephalomyelitis-like virus 1'' (AEV)''', which is a single-stranded RNA''' (ssRNA) virus belonging to the [[Picornaviridae| '''''Picornaviridae''''']] family. It was formerly classified as an ''enterovirus'' but is now considered a '''''Hepatovirus''''' as its genome ecodes for a single polyprotein (2134 amino acids), which shares greater resemblance to that of the hepatitis A viruses than the other ''picornavirus'' genera. The virus has a non-enveloped capsid with icosahedral symmetry and is approximately 26 nm in diameter and has buoyant density of 1.31 g/ml in caesium chloride <ref>Tannock, G.A., Shafren, D.R., (1994) '''''Avian encephalomyelitis: a review'''''. ''Avian Pathology'', 23(4):603-620; 85 ref.</ref>. There is only one serotype of AEV, which is not related antigenically to other avian ''picoronaviruses'', which is why it has been referred to in the past as an enteroviruses or enterovirus-like viruses. | + | Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) is commonly known as epidemic tremor in chickens. It is caused by ''Avian encephalomyelitis-like virus 1'' (AEV)''', which is a single-stranded RNA''' (ssRNA) virus belonging to the [[Picornaviridae| '''''Picornaviridae''''']] family. It was formerly classified as an ''enterovirus'' but is now considered a '''''Hepatovirus''''' as its genome ecodes for a single polyprotein (2134 amino acids), which shares greater resemblance to that of the ''hepatitis A viruses'' than the other ''picornavirus'' genera. The virus has a non-enveloped capsid with icosahedral symmetry and is approximately 26 nm in diameter and has buoyant density of 1.31 g/ml in caesium chloride <ref>Tannock, G.A., Shafren, D.R., (1994) '''''Avian encephalomyelitis: a review'''''. ''Avian Pathology'', 23(4):603-620; 85 ref.</ref>. There is only one serotype of AEV, which is not related antigenically to other avian ''picoronaviruses'', which is why it has been referred to in the past as an enteroviruses or enterovirus-like viruses. |
| Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE)is of economic concern to breeders and layers as it causes a '''decrease in egg production''' in laying hens, a '''decrease in egg hatchability''', '''neurological diseases in chicks under three weeks of age''' and '''affected chicks that that survive are considered unlikely to be profitable'''. | | Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE)is of economic concern to breeders and layers as it causes a '''decrease in egg production''' in laying hens, a '''decrease in egg hatchability''', '''neurological diseases in chicks under three weeks of age''' and '''affected chicks that that survive are considered unlikely to be profitable'''. |