The effect of infectious bursal disease virus on B lymphocytes and bursal stromal components in specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens.
The effect of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was studied on adult specific pathogen-free (SPF) white Leghorn chickens through analysis of peripheral blood cell suspensions and histological staining patterns on various tissue types, with specific mAbs. A rapid, progressive loss of B lymphocytes was observed in the bursal cortex and medulla, peripheral blood and thymic medulla. There was, however, a resistant population of MUI-36+ cells at the bursal cortico-medullary junction and scattered around splenic periellipsoidal sheaths. These resistant cells were suggested to be a subpopulation of macrophages which expressed the MUI-36 marker; alternatively these may have phagocytosed virally infected B cells or their remnants. Throughout the period of infection, T lymphocytes appeared nonsusceptible. Further, while the distribution of stromal cell antigens within the bursal cortex remained unaltered, particular epitopes on the surface epithelium and in the medulla were lost as a consequence of viral infection. The data presented therefore suggests that immunodepression of chickens post-IBDV infection, may arise as a direct consequence of infection of B lymphocytes; additionally, it is possible that the elimination of certain crucial elements within the bursal microenvironment may contribute to this state.
Ramm
H C
HC
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash University Medical School, Victoria, Australia.
Wilson
T J
TJ
Boyd
R L
RL
Ward
H A
HA
Mitrangas
K
K
Fahey
K J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000473:pathology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus / Q000502:physiology*; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal