Chicken anaemia virus infection (or CAV)

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Chicken anaemia virus infection (known generally in the industry as CAV) is an acute viral infection of chickens that is found worldwide. The disease is not known to affect any other bird species, although antibodies have been found in Japanese (coturnix) quail. Prior to confirmation that the disease was in fact caused by a virus it was known as Chicken Anaemia Agent or CAA.

CAV can infect chickens of all ages but disease is only seen in young chickens and is characterised by depression, anorexia, anaemia, haemorrhage and a sudden rise in mortality. CAV depresses the immune system and so leaves affected birds more susceptible to other infections and mortality can often be a result of secondary infections.

What causes chicken anaemia virus infection?

CAV is a small DNA virus. Susceptibility to disease in chicks with a healthy immune system declines rapidly with age and chicks are age resistant to the disease at 2 weeks of age. The virus can be spread both vertically (from parents to offspring) and horizontally (between birds within a flock).

Infected birds are viremic (shed virus) for up to 35 days. Infected roosters will shed the virus in their semen and hens will shed the virus into eggs during this viremic period. Chicks infected through their parents can spread virus to other susceptible chicks with which they have contact, either directly or indirectly. Horizontal spread is through the faecal-oral route.

Recovered or immunised birds have neutralising antibodies that protect them from further infection. Chicks from immune breeder hens will be protected by maternal antibody until their own age resistance develops. Protection by maternal antibodies can however be overcome if the chick is affected by another severe immunosuppressive disease, such as infectious bursal disease, Marek’s disease or reticuloendotheliosis.

Prevention and treatment of chicken anaemia virus infection

There is no specific treatment. Secondary bacterial infections may be treated with antibiotics and minimised through good biosecurity practices, including hygiene and management. Vaccination of antibody-negative breeder flocks prior to the start of egg production is recommended. The control of other diseases that suppress the immune system is also important.At present, there is no vaccine available to prevent subclinical losses in broilers.