Monocytosis is associated with the onset of leukocyte and viral infiltration of the brain in chickens infected with the very virulent Marek's disease virus strain C12/130.
Marek's disease (MDV) virus is mainly known for the induction of visceral lymphomas and lymphoid infiltration of peripheral nerves. Recently, additional tropism for the central nervous system has been recognised as a distinct feature of disease induced by very virulent MDV isolates. During the analysis of changes in the peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in chickens infected with either a virulent (HPRS-16) or a very virulent (C12/130) strain of MDV, we observed a marked monocytosis in chickens infected with C12/130. Perivascular cuffing in brain and mononuclear cell infiltration into the meninges of chickens infected with C12/130 were associated with the appearance of the monocytosis from 6-10 days post-infection. Our results show that a peripheral blood monocytosis may be a contributory factor in establishing or accelerating the severity of mononuclear infiltration into the meninges and perivascular spaces in the brain during infection by very virulent C12/130 strain of MDV.
Viral Oncogenesis Group, Insitute for Animal Health, Compton, Berkshire, UK.
Alexander D
AD
Barrow
Shane C
SC
Burgess
Ken
K
Howes
Venugopal K
VK
Nair
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002645:Chickens; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D025922:Mardivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014774:Virulence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral