Renal Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium baileyi) in specific-pathogen-free chickens experimentally coinfected with Marek's disease virus.
Renal Cryptosporidiosis was experimentally induced during a study to investigate the pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium baileyi in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens coinfected with Marek's disease virus (MDV). Cryptosporidium baileyi was administered orally at 4 days of age to chickens previously infected at hatching (day 0) with the HPRS 16 strain of oncogenic MDV. Three control groups received MDV at hatching, C. baileyi on day 4, or placebo consisting of distilled water. Renal cryptosporidiosis lesions were induced in the group coinfected with MDV and C. baileyi. The kidneys were markedly swollen and pale, with visible urate crystals in the ureters and surface tubules. Oocysts of C. baileyi were demonstrated in six of seven cases tested by a scoring method with modified Sheather's sugar solution on renal tissue scrapings and were confirmed in three cases by histologic examination of paraffin-embedded kidney sections. Histologic study also revealed subacute interstitial nephritis, acute ureteritis, and attachment of cryptosporidia on the epithelial cell surface of the ureters and collecting ducts, collecting tubules, and distal convoluted tubules. Various developmental stages of the parasite were present in the kidney sections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of experimentally induced renal cryptosporidiosis in SPF chickens coinfected with MDV.
Abbassi
H
H
INRA, Station de Pathologie Aviaire et de Parasitologie, Nouzilly, France.
Coudert
F
F
Chérel
Y
Y
Dambrine
G
G
Brugère-Picoux
J
J
Naciri
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007668:Kidney / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014513:Ureter / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology