Experiments were conducted to characterize renal lesions in chickens induced by four strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV); each has been described as nephropathogenic. Those strains were also compared in vaccinated and unvaccinated older chickens for nephropathogenicity. The younger birds were much more susceptible to the nephritogenic effects of the strains. All four strains produced acute renal changes consisting of tubular damage and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration and edema. Although both cortex and medulla were involved, the latter was generally affected more severely. The Holte strain proved to be the least pathogenic, followed by the more pathogenic Gray and Italian strains and finally by the Australian strain. All four strains produced similar chronic renal changes in unvaccinated birds, with no correlation to the severity of lesions seen at the acute phase. Chronic active and inactive types of interstitial nephritis were seen at the chronic phase. Vaccinated birds challenged with the Australian strain had the highest prevalence of the chronic active type of interstitial nephritis. The implication of renal viral persistence in the development of chronic active interstitial nephritis is discussed.
A flock of 7-week-old broiler chickens in northwestern Arkansas showed signs of respiratory distress. Gross pathologic alterations were excessive exudate in the tracheas and congestion of the nasal turbinates. An adenovirus was isolated from fresh trachea specimens. Microscopically, alterations in tracheal sections were thickened mucosa with inflammatory-cell lamina-proprial infiltrate and epithelial squamous metaplasia. Protozoan parasites present on the epithelial surface were identified by electron microscopy as Cryptosporidium spp. These organisms were attached to the tracheal mucosa epithelium and the luminal surface of mucous glands. The significance of the intercurrent adenovirus infection was not determined.
Chickens were chemically bursectomized with cyclophosphamide at 3 days old, and studies made of the effects of infection by inclusion body hepatitis virus (IBHV) and infectious bursal disease virus. In another experiment, 3-week-old chickens were infected with infectious bursal disease virus before inoculation with IBHV. Interference with the bursa of Fabricius by cyclophosphamide or by infectious bursal disease virus enhanced the pathogenicity of IBHV. In contrast, cyclophosphamide effects on the bursa protected chickens against infectious bursal disease.
An avian pox virus was isolated from Amazon parrots dying with severe diphtheritic oral, esophageal, and crop lesions. The virus was propagated on chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of 10-day-old chicken embryos, and a homogenate of the infected CAM was rubbed vigorously onto the conjunctiva, oral mucosa, and defeathered follicles of two healthy Amazon parrots and three conures. All experimental birds developed cutaneous and ocular pox lesions, and one parrot developed oral pox lesions. Specific-pathogen-free chicks inoculated with the virus isolate developed skin lesions identical to those of the parrots. Chickens vaccinated with fowl and pigeon pox vaccines and inoculated with the psittacine isolate developed lesions typical of avian pox. Chickens vaccinated with the psittacine virus were susceptible to fowl and pigeon pox virus infection. This pox virus isolate may thus be regarded as a potential pathogen for chickens.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.