Viral disease - practical insight

摘要

Viruses are often regarded as the smallest of micro-organisms, but strictly speaking they are not micro-organisms as they are not cells. However, viral diseases are very important in poultry production and are a major cause of economic losses. Virusesare also something of an enigma so this article will consider viruses in general terms and endeavour to give you a practical insight into the role of viruses in poultry disease. A virus is not, as was previously mentioned, an organism, but just a nucleic acid genome (some genetic material) enclosed in a protein coat.Viruses are totally inert and can only multiply if they enter a tissue cell in a host, for example a chicken.