Characterization and experimental reproduction of peripheral neuropathy in White Leghorn chickens

Abstract

A clinical neurological syndrome termed peripheral neuropathy (PN) that resembles Marek's disease (MD) occurred at low frequency in a commercial layer strain for several years. Study of chickens from six field cases showed that the PN syndrome could be distinguished pathologically from MD on the basis of several factors, including onset as early as 6 weeks, presence of B-type but not A-type lesions in peripheral nerves, and absence of visceral lymphomas. Serotype 1 MD virus could not be isolated from blood from any chicken or demonstrated in tissues by histochemistry or polymerase chain reaction assays. Moreover, the syndrome was not prevented by MD vaccination, either in the field or in laboratory trials. PN was induced in 3 to 54% of commercial line chickens inoculated at 1 or 6 days of age with whole blood or buffy coat cells from clinically affected donor chickens. Sonicated cells also induced PN, but plasma was ineffective. Chickens did not develop PN if reared in isolators without cellular transfer or when vaccinated solely against MD. However, PN was observed in 9% of 57 B*2/*19 commercial chickens reared in isolators following vaccination against MD, infectious bursal disease, Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis, suggesting that common vaccines may predispose chickens to PN. The data confirmed a strong influence of the major histocompatibility complex (B-complex) on both naturally occurring and experimentally induced PN with the B*19 haplotype conferring susceptibility compared with other alleles. It is postulated that PN may represent an autoimmune reaction to nerve tissue that may result from response to a combination of common vaccines. These studies confirmed that PN is distinct from MD, provided criteria for its differential diagnosis, identified strategies for its control, and established a model for its experimental induction.

Acute paretic syndrome in juvenile White Leghorn chickens resembles late stages of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies in humans

“…The aim of the genotyping was to evaluate a possible association between MHC and the occurrence of the paralytic syndrome as previously observed in peripheral neuropathy [16]. …”

“…Being alerted by own observations and previous reports on a sporadic paretic syndrome in up to 4% of young White Leghorn layer chickens [16], we addressed the question whether this disorder might resemble mammalian IDP, and performed detailed investigations on the disease phenotype, genetic background and exposure to relevant infective agents.…”

Multiple Perineuriomas in Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

“…2 Experimentally, PN lesions similar to those of MD occurred in some broiler chickens inoculated with ALV subgroup J. 28 Recently, Bacon et al 1 reported peripheral neuropathies with leg paralysis in commercial layers that were suggested to be caused by an autoimmune reaction to the nerve tissue associated with a combination of common vaccines. The lesions were composed of inflammatory changes characterized by PN fibers separated by edema.…”

Evaluation of lumbosacral nerve root conduction in chickens by electrophysiological testing including high-resolution spinal magnetic stimulation

“…The value of juvenile chickens in neurological research recently has been emphasized by the highly prevalent GBSlike avian inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AvIDP) (Bader et al, 2010) as well as in previous work on inflammatory polyneuropathies (Bacon et al, 2001). These potentially overlapping syndromes and the classical form of Marek's disease Stevens et al, 1981) provide naturally occurring alternatives to experimental animal models for human inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (IDPs).…”