Table 3.

Results of the challenge test using the γCoV/ck/China/I1011/14 strain to infect SPF chickens.

Group	Morbidity	Mortality	Lesionsa			IHCb			Antibody responsec
			Nephritis		Cystic oviducts	Kidney		Cystic oviducts	4	8	12	16	20	24
			Dead	Survived	Survived	Dead	Survived	Survived
γCoV/ck/China/I1011/14	10/10	4/10	4/4	0/6	0/5d	4/4	0/6	0/5d	0/10	4/7	6/6	6/6	6/6	6/6
Negative Control	0/10	0/10	–	0/10	0/8e	0/10	0/10	0/8e	0/10	0/10	0/10	0/10	0/10	0/10

^aPost-mortem examinations were only conducted for chickens that died from a challenge with the γCoV/ck/China/I1011/14 strain, as well as for chickens which survived 90 days post-challenge. All of the dead chickens showed nephritis. The surviving chickens were examined for oviduct abnormalities.

^bThe presence of IBV antigen in the kidneys of dead chickens, and in the kidneys and cystic oviducts of surviving chickens were investigated using IHC.

^cAntibody responses against IBV were only examined from 4 to 24 days post-challenge.

^dFive of the 6 surviving chickens were hens in the challenge group.

^eEight of the 10 surviving chickens were hens in the negative control group.