To evaluate the effect of avian nephrotrophic strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) on serum electrolytes, liver and renal function indexes in growing chickens of a layer strain. 120 healthy chickens (35 days old) were randomly divided into 2 groups (virus and control), each group with 60 chickens. The chickens in the virus group and the control group were challenged by 0.2mL artificial nasal drip with virus and sterile saline solution per chicken, respectively. Blood parameters of chicken were evaluated on the 8^th, 15^th and 22^nd day after challenge, respectively. The results showed that Ca, P, K values in the virus group were statistically (P<0.001) lower than in the control group on the 22^nd day; Mg values in the control group were statistically (P<0.05) higher than in the viruses group on the 15^th day. UA and CR values in the control group were significantly lower than in the virus group (UA, P<0.001; CR, P<0.05) on the 15^th day. BUN values in the control group were significantly higher than in the virus group on the 22^nd day. TP, ALB, GLB and GGT activity in the virus group were significantly higher than in the control group on the 15^th day. Our results demonstrated that chickens infected with nephrotrophic strains of IBV can cause liver and kidney damage and the results also provided some evidence for avian visceral gout diagnosis.

Key words: Growing layers, Infectious bronchitis virus, Visceral gout