title: Plasma cell quantitation in the gland of Harder during infectious bursal disease virus infection of 3-week-old broiler chickens.
abstract: Histopathologic changes in the gland of Harder (GH) and bursa of Fabricius (BF) were studied during and after infection of 3-week-old broiler chickens with a pathogenic strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Plasma cell (PC) necrosis in the GH was seen from 5 to 14 days postinoculation (PI), BF follicular necrosis was observed from 1 to 7 days PI. PC numbers within the GH, counted for 28 days after inoculation, declined and were reduced (P less than 0.01) by 51% at 7 days after inoculation, which coincided with PC necrosis and heterophil infiltration. After 14 days PI, however, PC numbers were equal to those in uninfected controls. Since the GH is a major antibody-producing site in the paraocular area, the reduction in PC number at 7 days PI might indicate compromise of local immunity in the paraocular region and upper respiratory tract associated with IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Biochemistry, College of Agricultural Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark 19717-1303.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dohms
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rosenberger
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Metz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002060:Bursa of Fabricius / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007243:Infectious bursal disease virus; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*