Effect of malignant catarrhal fever virus infection on the immune response of rabbits to sheep red blood cells.
Rabbits infected with African Malignant catarrhal fever virus mounted a depressed antibody response to sheep red blood cells compared to the antibody response of uninfected rabbits. Immunodepression was observed in rabbits immunised 0, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after infection. Antibody response was not depressed in the rabbits immunised 1 day after infection. Despite the depressed antibody response to SRBC, the rabbits died with rising virus neutralising antibody to the virus. The possible causes of the immunodepression are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002417:Cattle; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008304:Malignant Catarrh / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology