Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) Infection

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a highly contagious dsRNA virus (Birnaviridae) which causes immuno-suppression in chickens. Although largely controlled by vaccination, new, virulent strains of the virus mean that infectious bursal disease (IBD or ëGumboroí disease) still remains a threat to the poultry industry. The virus infects dividing IgM+ B-lymphocytes and the main site of viral replication is the bursa of Fabricius where B cells are produced. Infection is spread orally via contaminated feed and water. IBDV affects young birds, with the disease usually being diagnosed in 3-6 week old birds. Younger birds do not show clinical signs but are immuno-suppressed. Symptoms include anorexia, depression, diahorrea, ruffled feathers, immuno-suppression and bursal lesions. The disease peaks between 2-5 days post infection and is practically cleared by day 7. Mortality is variable but can be up to around 70% with very virulent strains of the disease. Even if birds survive, the resulting immuno-suppression and effect on egg production in layer birds is significant. Being able to breed commercial lines of birds for enhanced genetic resistance to IBDV is an obvious goal in the fight against the disease. Three-week-old chicks were inoculated with virus via an intra-nasal route and tissue samples were collected at 2, 3 and 4 days post-inoculation. Bursa and spleen tissues were examined from control and infected birds at 2, 3 and 4 days post-infection in birds known to be either susceptible or resistant to the virus. As well as understanding the host immune response to IBDV, we are interested in identifying genes involved in disease resistance and so we have analysed the gene expression profiles at these times, when the innate immune response is active. We assume that genes underlying resistance will be involved at this early stage of the host immune response.

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