title: Characterization of Immunosuppression in chickens by infectious bursal disease virus.
abstract: Chickens were infected with infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus in ovo or at different times posthatching to 6 weeks of age. The B- and T-cell responses in the lymphoid tissues and blood were examined sequentially to 8 weeks of age by using indirect immunofluorescence. The proportion of B-cells was consistently lower in infected birds than in controls, especially in chicks infected as embryos or at 1 day old. The proportion of T-cells increased following these early infections but was slightly lower in spleen and blood of birds infected at 1, 4, and-6 weeks of age. Serum IgM levels dropped significantly after infection, regardless of the time of infection. IgG levels decreased following early infection but increased after infection at 1 week old or more. The results strongly suggest that B-cells are the target for IBD virus infection.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000276:immunology; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000276:immunology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M