It causes disease in young ducklings, usually <6 weeks of age and spreads rapidly within a flock.

[2] Duck Hepatitis is a Class B disease listed by the Office des International Epizooties.

DHV-1 has the most significant economic effect due to its high mortality rate when the spread is not controlled.

Autopsy should show an enlarged liver, which appears greenish and displays distinct ecchymotic haemorrhages.

To prevent the disease, vaccination (ATCvet code QI01) is commercially available against DHV-1 and immunization involves two or three inoculations.