| The disease is mainly spread by '''vertical transmission''', which is of particular importance to intensive breeding populations. The '''age''' of the bird has a marked effect on the '''development of clinical signs'''.'''Chicks hatching''' from infected layers of naive flocks (vertical transmission) '''show clinical signs after 10-14 days of age''' over a '''period of 3 to 6 weeks'''. After which the breeder layers develop sufficient CAV antibodies to stop the transmission of the virus to the egg. '''Mortality peaks''' during the '''third week of life''' around 5 to 10% but can be as high as 60%. Whereas in '''older chicks''' (>14 days old) that become infected via faecal-oral route (horizontal transmission) '''do not exhibit clinical signs''' but the '''growth and health of the birds may be affected''' <ref name="McNulty et al., 1991">McNulty, M.S., McIlroy, S.G., Bruce, D.W., Todd, D., (1991) '''Economic effects of subclinical chicken anaemia agent infection in broiler chickens.''' ''Avian Diseases,'' 35:263-268. </ref>. Fomites may assist the transmission of the virus. | | The disease is mainly spread by '''vertical transmission''', which is of particular importance to intensive breeding populations. The '''age''' of the bird has a marked effect on the '''development of clinical signs'''.'''Chicks hatching''' from infected layers of naive flocks (vertical transmission) '''show clinical signs after 10-14 days of age''' over a '''period of 3 to 6 weeks'''. After which the breeder layers develop sufficient CAV antibodies to stop the transmission of the virus to the egg. '''Mortality peaks''' during the '''third week of life''' around 5 to 10% but can be as high as 60%. Whereas in '''older chicks''' (>14 days old) that become infected via faecal-oral route (horizontal transmission) '''do not exhibit clinical signs''' but the '''growth and health of the birds may be affected''' <ref name="McNulty et al., 1991">McNulty, M.S., McIlroy, S.G., Bruce, D.W., Todd, D., (1991) '''Economic effects of subclinical chicken anaemia agent infection in broiler chickens.''' ''Avian Diseases,'' 35:263-268. </ref>. Fomites may assist the transmission of the virus. |