Vitamin A deficiency impairs cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in Newcastle disease virus-infected chickens

The effect of vitamin A deficiency on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was investigated during the acute phase of disease 7 days after primary inoculation and 1 day after secondary inoculation in chickens with or without Newcastle disease virus (NDV, La Sota strain) infection. Day-old chickens with limited vitamin A reserves were fed purified diets containing either marginal (ad libitum) or adequate (pair-fed) levels of vitamin A, and at 3 weeks of age half of the chickens in each group were infected with NDV. Cytotoxic activity was investigated during the acute phase of disease (7 days after primary inoculation) and 1 day after secondary inoculation, in an assay system with either peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or nonadherent splenocytes as effector cells and adherent splenocytes from the same animal as target cells. After primary inoculation, cytotoxic activity could only be demonstrated in nonadherent splenocytes. Vitamin A deficiency resulted in significantly reduced CTL activity at all effector/target cell ratios tested. After reinfection CTL activity could also be demonstrated in PBL, but only from chickens fed the control diet, suggesting a diminished pool of CTL in vitamin A deficiency. The results of this study indicate that vitamin A deficiency impairs CTL activity - a part of the cell-mediated defense system - and this may have important implications for recovery from viral infection.     

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in chickens with infectious bursal disease

Primary and secondary immune responses to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was evaluated in chickens infected with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at one and 28 days of age. The geometric mean primary hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers (GMT) of chickens infected with IBDV at one day of age was significantly lower (P less than or equal to 0.01) than those infected at 28 days of age. Infection with IBDV had no influence on secondary immune response to NDV. The effect of IBDV infection at one day of age on the cell-mediated immunity of chickens was evaluated by skin allograft acceptance or survival time. There was no significant difference between the percentage of grafts accepted in IBDV infected and noninfected control chickens. However, the mean graft survival time in the IBDV infected chickens was significantly longer (P less than or equal to 0.05) than those in the control group. This suggested a suppression of cell-mediated immunity due to IBDV infection.     

SHORT COMMUNICATION: Neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram of sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E

The objective of this study was to evaluate neutrophil oxidative metabolism and haemogram in sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. Twenty male Corriedale sheep were utilised and distributed into four experimental groups each with five animals infected with larvae: G1‐ supplemented with sodium selenite, 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) given intramuscularly (IM); G2‐ supplemented with sodium selenite and vitamin E, 0.2 mg/kg bw and 2000 IU per animal, respectively, both IM; G3‐ supplemented with vitamin E, 2000 IU per animal IM; G4‐ not supplemented. A haemogram and the number of parasite eggs were determined in samples of blood and faeces, respectively, on days zero (T0), 20 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assays were performed on heparinized blood samples taken on days zero, 30 and 60. A lower total leucocyte count was detected in G1 in relation to G4 at T4. Lymphocytes were reduced in G1 in relation to G3 and G4 at T3. In both non‐stimulated (NBT‐NS) and stimulated (NBT‐S) dye reduction assays, there was reduced activity at 60 days, in relation to other times in the groups treated with selenium (G1 and G2). On the basis of results obtained, we conclude that supplementation with selenium provides better antioxidant protection to neutrophils.     

SIMULATED NATURAL INFECTION OF CHICKENS WITH AUSTRALIAN LENTOGENIC NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS AND SUBSEQUENT CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT VIRUS

A total of 291 eight-week-old chickens were exposed to chickens infected with either of two Australian lentogenic strains (V4 and AVL NDV-1) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). At 3 weeks after exposure, all chickens exposed to V4 infected chickens had developed haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody. All chickens exposed to AVL NDV-1 virus infected chickens had developed HI antibody 5 weeks later. This sudden late appearance of HI antibody, to titres higher than those observed with V4 chickens, was explained by V4 virus being introduced to the AVL NDV-1 group of chickens. When groups of these chickens were challenged with Roakin virus (mesogenic NDV) at 3 weeks and Fontana 1083 virus (viscerotropic velogenic NDV) and Texas GB virus (neutrotropic NDV) at 3, 5, 10 and 21 weeks only three chickens developed clinical illness one of which died. These chickens were one AVL NDV-1 chicken contact challenged with Fontana 1083 virus at 3 weeks, one V4 chicken oronasally challenged with Texas GB virus at 5 weeks and one V4 chicken challenged oronasally with Fontana 1083 virus at 10 weeks. Susceptible non-vaccinated chickens died soon after challenge. Challenge by oronasal infection with 10(7.0) ELD50 of virus or contact with susceptible infected chickens enabled virulent virus to be isolated from most chickens and was accompanied by a large anamnestic increase in serum HI antibody.     

新城疫单抗ELISA试剂盒监测免疫鸡群中新城疫强毒

应用新城疫（ND）单抗ELISA试剂盒对2个免疫鸡群中ND强毒感染情况及个体感染强毒后排毒动态跟踪监测，并平等测定其HI抗体效价。共采集泄殖腔棉拭子和血液对应样品2317份。结果表明：HI效价2－14之间的个体均可检出强毒，其中HI效价在6以下和11以上的个体强毒检出率都较高。HI效价在6以上的个体仍角感染强毒，强毒感染导致HI抗体水平上升，且感染前低者上升速度较快，幅度亦较大；并且发现排毒个体的高水平抗体是强毒感染所致。个体感染强毒后排毒过程可长达3周，而且感染前抗体水平低者排毒时间相对较长。强毒一旦侵入鸡群便可在群内巡回传播，长期维持下来。     

INTERACTION BETWEEN INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS AND NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS IN CHICKENS

The Australian strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), 002/73, affected the response of chickens to Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The titre of serum antibodies to NDV in chickens infected with IBDV was significantly lower than that of birds infected with NDV alone. It also appeared that IBDV affected NDV excretion from chickens as NDV was more frequently isolated from chickens infected with IBDV, IBDV infection did not alter the pathogenicity of NDV in chickens. This Australian strain of IBDV therefore appeared to be immunodepressive in one-day-old chickens.     

ND野毒感染病鸡MDA含量和SOD活性研究

对22日龄健康AA肉鸡和新城疫野毒（NDN）感染肉鸡组织中丙二醛（MDA）含量和超氧化物化酶（SOD）活性研究结果显示：ND野毒感染病鸡心、肝、肾等组织MDA含量和SOD活性发生明显改变。结果提示,自由基参与了ND发生发展怕致病过程,在NDV诱导的细胞凋亡过程中自由基可能起关键作用。     

Virus interference between H7N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus and lentogenic Newcastle disease virus in experimental co-infections in chickens and turkeys

Low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and lentogenic Newcastle disease virus (lNDV) are commonly reported causes of respiratory disease in poultry worldwide with similar clinical and pathobiological presentation. Co-infections do occur but are not easily detected, and the impact of co-infections on pathobiology is unknown. In this study chickens and turkeys were infected with a lNDV vaccine strain (LaSota) and a H7N2 LPAIV (A/turkey/VA/SEP-67/2002) simultaneously or sequentially three days apart. No clinical signs were observed in chickens co-infected with the lNDV and LPAIV or in chickens infected with the viruses individually. However, the pattern of virus shed was different with co-infected chickens, which excreted lower titers of lNDV and LPAIV at 2 and 3 days post inoculation (dpi) and higher titers at subsequent time points. All turkeys inoculated with the LPAIV, whether or not they were exposed to lNDV, presented mild clinical signs. Co-infection effects were more pronounced in turkeys than in chickens with reduction in the number of birds shedding virus and in virus titers, especially when LPAIV was followed by lNDV. In conclusion, co-infection of chickens or turkeys with lNDV and LPAIV affected the replication dynamics of these viruses but did not affect clinical signs. The effect on virus replication was different depending on the species and on the time of infection. These results suggest that infection with a heterologous virus may result in temporary competition for cell receptors or competent cells for replication, most likely interferon-mediated, which decreases with time.     

Effects of cyclophosphamide in newly hatched chickens after inoculation with avian nephritis virus

Effects of immunosuppression were compared in newly hatched chickens given cyclophosphamide (CY) after inoculation with avian nephritis virus (ANV). All CY-treated infected chickens died within 13 days after inoculation of the virus and had heavy urate deposits throughout the body. However, non-CY-treated infected, CY-treated noninfected, and non-CY-treated noninfected control chickens survived through the observation period. In a chronologic study, the value of serum uric acid in CY-treated infected chickens was more than 3 times higher than that in non-CY-treated infected chickens, and more than 9 times higher than in noninfected chickens. Serum uric acid values were coincident with the positive degree of ANV antigen in the tubular epithelial cells in the kidneys and with the severity of renal degeneration. Serologic and immunohistologic examinations did not reveal detectable antibody and IgG- and IgM-containing cells in the spleen and kidneys of CY-treated infected chickens. However, non-CY-treated infected chickens had an increased number of IgM- and IgG-containing cells and antibody against ANV on postinoculation day 6. These findings demonstrated that CY treatment enhanced the susceptibility of chickens to ANV infection.     

人工感染新城疫病毒对雏鸡淋巴细胞功能的影响

确定了ＭＴＴ法测定鸡脾淋巴细胞转化实验的最佳条件,并用此法检测了人工感染新城疫病毒雏鸡和ＬａＳｏｔａ免疫雏鸡受到强毒攻击时脾淋巴细胞的转化率。实验表明,在两种情况下,雏鸡脾淋巴细胞对ＣｏｎＡ和ＰＨＡ的反应性与对照组比较有显著的差异,提示在新城疫感染和免疫中,淋巴细胞具有一定作用。     

Effect of vitamin A and/or E on plasma enzymatic antioxidant systems and total antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens challenged with carbon tetrachloride

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin A and E supplementation on the antioxidant defences of broiler chickens against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced oxidative stress at 4 weeks of age. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities as well as total antioxidant (TAO) level were analysed before and after CCl(4) challenge. Day-old Lohman broiler chickens (n = 144) were randomly assigned to six factorially arranged dietary treatments consisting of vitamin A [1.35 (control) or +20 mg/kg] and vitamin E [20 (control), +40 or +60 mg/kg]. The background of vitamins A and E in the basal diet was 4500 IU (1.35 mg) and 30 IU (20 mg) respectively. At 4 weeks of age, eight chickens from each treatment were bled before interperitoneal injection with 1 ml of CCl(4) (mixed with olive oil in a ratio of 1:1) and bled again 24 h post-injection. Vitamin E supplementation decreased (p < 0.05) the activity of both SOD and GPX and showed a tendency (p = 0.07) for TAO reduction. CCl(4) attenuated SOD and GPX activities as well as TAO level. The decrease was profound (p < 0.05) in chickens fed the basal diet as well as those fed basal diet supplemented with 20 mg vitamin A. TAO levels behaved similarly when chickens were challenged with CCl(4). After CCl(4) injection, SOD activities of all experimental groups were equivalent. The presence of vitamin A decreased (p < 0.05) plasma GPX activity in chickens fed the basal diet supplemented with 40 mg/kg of vitamin E. Results of this experiment suggested that vitamin E supplementation elevated antioxidant enzyme activities while vitamin A supplementation attenuated this effect. Vitamin E supplementation improved the total reducing power by maintaining comparable levels of TAO upon CCl(4) challenge. Further experiments need to be carried out to investigate the role of vitamin A in oxidative stress and to evaluate the lipid peroxidation products.     

禽白血病病毒J亚群感染对五华鸡生产性能和免疫性能的影响

为了解禽白血病病毒J-亚群(ALV-J)感染对安徽省优良地方品种鸡—五华鸡生产性能和免疫性能的影响,在对五华鸡开展ALV-J血清学感染检测调研的基础上,对进入产蛋高峰期的五华鸡ALV-J血清阳性鸡群和阴性鸡群开展了为期18周的试验对比观察研究。结果表明,ALV-J血清阳性(感染或曾经感染)对五华鸡没有造成明显的发病和死亡增高现象;对鸡群新城疫(ND)、禽流感H5和H9疫苗的免疫效果没有呈现明显抑制;但对鸡群的产蛋率和平均蛋重会造成一定程度的下降(对照组平均产蛋率和蛋重分别为56%和0.055 kg,而试验组为53.37%和0.051 kg),料蛋比有一定程度的上升(对照组的料蛋比为3.49∶1,试验组为3.92∶1)。目前ALV-J感染虽然不会造成五华鸡明显的发病、死亡及免疫抑制,但可造成明显的生产性能下降和饲养成本的提高,必须引起高度重视,应及早开展原种鸡的ALV-J净化工作。     

Energy and nitrogen metabolism of diseased chickens: interaction of Ascaridia galli infestation and vitamin A status.

1. Effects of Ascaridia galli infection on the energy and nitrogen (N) metabolism were studied on groups of 5 cross-bred cockerels aged about 5 weeks and given a diet deficient or adequate in vitamin A at two levels of feeding in respiration chambers. 2. Metabolisability of dietary energy was 67% and N retention 33% in infected chickens compared with 71 and 41% respectively, in uninfected chickens. 3. Maintenance energy requirement of vitamin A-deficient birds was 882 kJ/kgW d compared with 998 kJ/kgW d for normal birds. N balance of the deficient chickens was also less when compared at the same energy balance. Infection did not affect maintenance energy requirement nor N balance. 4. Starvation heat production of infected chickens (619 kJ/kgW d) was higher than that of uninfected controls (586 kJ/kgW d). When infection treatments were combined, vitamin A-adequate chickens had a higher heat production (615 kJ/kg d) than the vitamin A-deficient (580 kJ/kgW d). Endogenous N excretion (mg/gW) was less in vitamin A-deficient than in adequate, starved birds. 5. Deficient chickens had undetectable liver reserves of vitamin A and only very low plasma concentrations. There was a difference in the length of larvae (17 d after infection) associated with vitamin A status, and with level of feeding.     

新城疫La Sota疫苗对山东分离株的免疫保护试验

用标准疫苗株La Sota活疫苗在隔离器中接种SPF鸡,进行免疫保护试验.免疫后,每7 d采血监测NDV抗体,免疫后2周,利用经过鉴定的新城疫病毒(NDV)潍坊毒SGM01、昌乐毒SCL03、东营毒HY、日照毒SRZ03、莘县毒SSX03和标准强度F48E9分别进行攻毒试验,同时设SPF鸡对照.每天观察,及时剖检发病鸡,检查鸡群病变,确定疫苗的保护性.结果表明,La Sota疫苗能对除SGM01和HY以外的病毒攻击的SPF鸡提供较好的保护.     

内源性NO在雏鸡球虫感染中的作用

以腹腔注射途径给予感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫 (E.tenella)雏鸡细菌脂多糖 (L PS)和地塞米松 (Dex) ,用铜离子活化镉还原法检测血清 NO- 2 水平 ,并通过测定 NBT阳性细胞百分率、雏鸡增重、免疫器官的脏器系数、OPG值以及盲肠病变记分等指标 ,探讨了 NO在雏鸡感染球虫过程中的作用。试验结果表明 ,与空白对照组相比 ,给予 L PS可使 NBT阳性细胞百分率明显升高 (P<0 .0 1) ,并使盲肠病变及球虫感染引起的增重下降有所减轻 ,这提示 L PS对雏鸡具一定的保护作用 ;而给予 Dex不仅降低了感染雏鸡血清 NO- 2 的水平、NBT阳性细胞百分率、增重和胸腺的脏器系数 ,还增加了 OPG值和盲肠病变记分 ,说明在雏鸡感染球虫过程中 ,Dex会减少 NO的生成 ,并使雏鸡抗球虫免疫力下降。     

Reduced serologic response to Newcastle disease virus in broiler chickens exposed to a Chinese field strain of subgroup J avian leukosis virus

In this study, a Chinese field strain of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J), NX0101, was studied for its immunosuppressive effects in both commercial broilers and SPF white Leghorn chickens infected at 1 day of age. Our data demonstrated that NX0101 induced much more significant body and immune organ weight loss in the infected commercial broiler chickens in an earlier age than that in the SPF white Leghorn chickens. At the same time antibody responses to vaccinations of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bursa disease virus (IBDV) in the NX0101-infected chickens were also evaluated and compared between the commercial broiler chickens and the SPF white Leghorn chickens. Compared with the control group of chickens, the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody response to NDV vaccines was significantly reduced in the NX0101-infected commercial broiler chickens from as early as 20 days after vaccination. However, no significant difference in HI antibody response was seen when HI titers reached their peaks in the NX0101-inoculated and control SPF white Leghorn chickens, except it declined significantly faster in infected birds. Neither of these two types of chickens showed significant decrease of antibody response to IBDV vaccination. Herein, we conclude that this NX0101 strain of ALV-J could selectively suppress humoral immune reactions to NDV, especially in broilers. But challenge experiments were not conducted and, therefore, it cannot be known if decreased antibody levels correlated with decreased protection against NDV in this case.     

Vitamin A deficiency interferes with proliferation and maturation of cells in the chicken small intestine

1. The effect of vitamin A on the small intestine was examined in vitamin-A-deficient meat-type chickens. 2. Maturation and activity of the small intestinal cells were assayed by detection of proliferating cells with proliferating cells nuclear antigen, goblet cells with Alcian blue, mature cells with alkaline phosphatase and extent of RNA expression with dot blot analysis. 3. Vitamin A deficiency caused hyperproliferation of enterocytes, a decrease in the number of goblet cells, decreased alkaline phosphatase activity and decreased expression of 2 brush-border enzymes. 4. Our findings suggest that the absence of vitamin A interferes with the normal growth rate in chickens because it influences functionality of the small intestine by altering proliferation and maturation of cells in the small intestinal mucosa.     

新城疫病毒感染鸡肾脏组织蛋白质组学方法条件的优化

为研究新城疫病毒(NDV)与宿主组织细胞之间的相互作用关系,本研究以NDV疫苗(La Sota)接种的鸡肾脏组织为材料,对其差异蛋白的表达进行分析,通过条件的优化,建立了NDV感染鸡肾脏组织的双向凝胶电泳检测方法。采用ImageMaster2D Platinum version 6.0软件对电泳图谱分析后显示:24 cm IPG胶条(pH4～pH7)对应的凝胶中可检测到约1 400个蛋白点,蛋白点匹配率达90%,表明NDV感染鸡肾脏组织蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳模型稳定、分辨率高、重复性好,在对4个时间点对照和人工感染凝胶分析过程中发现差异蛋白点主要集中于接种后7 d,该样品的2-DE电泳图谱中共有29个差异表达明显的蛋白点,其中上调表达蛋白点有15个,下调表达蛋白点有14个,利用荧光定量PCR对其中4个差异蛋白在mRNA水平进行检测,结果与双向电泳结果一致,NDV接种鸡肾脏组织蛋白质组学方法的建立为NDV致病机理的研究提供有效的方法。     

The exacerbating effect of infectious bronchitis virus infection on the infectious bursal disease virus-induced suppression of opsonization by Escherichia coil antibody in chickens

Chickens infected with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) commonly develop secondary infection of the respiratory tract with Escherichia coli, resulting in significant economic losses. To understand the host factors that may contribute to the E. coli infection, we investigated macrophage-mediated E. coli phagocytosis, intracellular bacterial killing, and development of opsonizing antibody in previously uninfected chickens and in those infected with IBV, IBDV, and IBDV plus IBV. Macrophages from the peripheral blood and the respiratory tracts of chickens infected with IBV or IBDV plus IBV efficiently performed in vitro phagocytosis of E. coli in the presence of positive-control serum (i.e., E. coli antiserum produced in normal chickens). Those macrophages also had adequate bactericidal activity, indicating that IBV and IBDV infections had not affected their phagocytic activity or bactericidal function. The phagocytic activity of macrophages remained unaffected (P < 0.05) when the positive-control serum was replaced with E. coli antiserum produced in chickens infected with IBV alone. However, when E. coli antisera raised in IBDV-infected and, especially, that produced in IBDV plus IBV-infected chickens were supplemented, the percentage of phagocytosis and number of bacteria ingested per phagocyte were significantly (P < 0.05) less. These results indicate that although IBDV alone has the potential to markedly reduce opsonizing ability of antibody, this effect is significantly (P < 0.05) exacerbated by IBV infection.     

Thrombocytopenia in Newcastle disease: haematological evaluation and histological study of bone marrow

A Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated in Mexico and called Chimalhuacan strain was characterised by gene F restriction enzyme analysis and found to be a genotype II velogenic virus. Haematological evaluations and histological studies of bone marrow were conducted on chickens experimentally infected with the Chimalhuacan virus and on control chickens. Within 72 hours post infection (hpi), a 50% decrease in thrombocyte and monocyte counts and a complete cellular depletion in bone marrow islands were evident in the infected group. These findings suggest that the Chimalhuacan strain of NDV causes an early and severe damage of the haematopoietic cells including thrombocyte precursors, which might explain the marked thrombocytopenia detected in early stages of this disease.