Comparative pathogenicity of different subtypes of duck hepatitis A virus in Pekin ducklings.

•DHAV-1a caused pancreatic bleeding or yellowing, and spleen swelling and bleeding of infected ducklings, but with no opisthotonos clinical signs.•Pathogenicity of DHAV-1a is significantly different than that of classical DHAV (DHAV-1 and DHAV-3).•There was no significant difference in pathogenicity of DHAV-3 (G) and DHAV-1 (FZ86) strains in mainland China.