The pathogenicity of three Australian fowl plague viruses for chickens,turkeys and ducks

The pathogenicity of three Australian fowl plague viruses, FPV-1, FPV-2, FPV-3, isolated during a natural outbreak of the disease varied for chickens, turkeys and ducks. FPV-1 and FPV-2 were pathogenic for chickens and turkeys, but not for ducks. However, these viruses were not highly pathogenic as they failed to cause illness or death in all birds that became infected. FPV-3 was non-pathogenic for the three species tested.The viruses spread from infected to in-contact birds, and more readily to ducks than to chickens or turkeys. All chickens and turkeys infected with the fowl plague viruses developed specific serum haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody which persisted for up to 85 days after infection. The titre of this antibody wan ed in six of 16 ducks over an 85-day period and two ducks failed to produce detectable specific HaI antibody despite being infected with the virus.     

Pathogenicity of embryo-adapted serotype 2 OH strain of infectious bursal disease virus in chickens and turkeys

The pathogenicity of serotype 2 OH strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) to specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryos and 2-wk-old SPF chickens and turkey poults was investigated. The virus was pathogenic for chicken embryos after five passages as evidenced by pathologic changes in inoculated embryos. The embryo-adapted virus was not pathogenic for 2-wk-old SPF chickens and turkey poults as indicated by lack of clinical signs, gross or microscopic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius of inoculated birds. Bursa-to-body-weight ratios of the inoculated chickens and turkey poults were not significantly different from those of uninoculated controls. Virus-neutralizing antibodies to serotype 2 IBDV were detected in inoculated chickens and turkeys. Results of this study indicated that the embryo-adapted serotype 2 OH IBDV isolate that is pathogenic for chicken embryos is infectious but not pathogenic in chickens and turkeys.     

SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE OF CHICKENS, TURKEYS AND DUCKS TO STRAIN V4 OF NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS

SUMMARY The serological response of two different age groups of turkeys and ducks to strain V4 of Newcastle disease virus was markedly inferior to that of similar age groups of chickens. This suggested that this strain might not be a suitable vaccine strain for use in turkeys and ducks, even though the correlation between specific serum antibody and immunity in these species is not clearly understood. The 20-week-old group of chickens required two doses of 10^7–1 50 per cent embryo infective doses (EID₅₀) of the virus to develop a specific serum antibody titre comparable to 21-day-old chickens given one dose of 10^7–1 EID₅₀ of virus.     

Experimental infections in domestic ducks with Cryptosporidium baileyi isolated from chickens

Oral inoculation of 13 ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) with 1 x 10(6) Cryptosporidium baileyi oocysts produced patent infections but no clinical signs of disease. Intratracheal inoculation of 13 ducks with 1 x 10(6) C. baileyi oocysts produced only mild clinical signs of respiratory disease, no deaths, and gross lesions of airsacculitis in only three ducks. The distribution of developmental stages of C. baileyi in ducks was similar to that observed in experimentally infected chickens and turkeys. Results of this study indicate that ducks are more resistant to experimentally induced respiratory cryptosporidiosis caused by C. baileyi than are chickens and turkeys.     

Experimental and serologic observations on avian pneumovirus (APV/turkey/Colorado/97) infection in turkeys

An avian pneumovirus (APV) was isolated from commercial turkeys in Colorado (APV/Colorado) showing clinical signs of a respiratory disease. The results of virus neutralization and indirect fluorescent antibody tests showed that the APV/Colorado was partially related to APV subgroup A but was unrelated to APV subgroup B. Turkeys experimentally inoculated with the APV/Colorado were observed for signs, lesions, seroconversion, and virus shedding. Thirty-six 7-wk-old turkeys were distributed into three groups. Eighteen turkeys were inoculated oculonasally with APV/Colorado, six were placed in contact at 1 day postinoculation (DPI), and 12 served as noninoculated controls. Tracheal swabs and blood samples were collected at 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 DPI. Tissues were collected from three inoculated and two control turkeys on aforementioned days for pathologic examination and APV isolation. Inoculated turkeys developed respiratory disease, yielded APV at 3, 5, and 7 DPI, and seroconverted at 10 DPI. Contact turkeys yielded APV at 7 and 10 DPI. No gross lesions were observed in the turbinates, infraorbital sinuses, and trachea. However, microscopic examination revealed acute rhinitis, sinusitis, and tracheitis manifested by congestion, edema, lymphocytic and heterophilic infiltration, and loss of ciliated epithelia. The inflammatory lesions were seen at 3 DPI and became extensive at 5 and 7 DPI. Active regenerative changes in the epithelia were seen at 10 and 14 DPI. Serologic survey for the presence of antibodies in commercial turkeys (24,504 sera from 18 states) and chickens (3,517 sera from 12 states) to APV/Colorado showed seropositive turkeys in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and no seropositive chickens. This report is the first on the isolation of an APV and APV infection in the United States.     

Marek's disease in turkeys: lack of protection by vaccination

Herpesvirus of turkeys, a highly effective vaccine against Marek's disease (MD) in chickens, was ineffective in protecting turkeys against MD. Another tissue-culture attenuated vaccine virus also protected chickens, but not turkeys, from MD. Intact and immunosuppressed turkey poults inoculated with herpesvirus of turkey developed a persistent viremia, but did not have detectable gross or microscopic lesions.     

Comparative susceptibility of chickens, turkeys and ducks to infectious bursal disease virus using immunohistochemistry

Twenty chicks, 12 turkey poults and 10 ducklings, all 5 weeks old were infected with 2 × 10^3.5 chick LD₅₀ IBD virus to determine the course of the virus in the 3 poultry species. Uninfected control birds were kept separately. Two infected and 2 control birds/species were euthanized at time intervals between 3 and 168 hours post infection (pi). Sections of thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen, liver, kidney, proventriculus and ceacal tonsil were stained for the detection of IBD virus antigen using immunoperoxidase technique. IBD virus antigen positive cells stained reddish-brown and the amount of such cells in tissue sections were noted and scored. Stained cells were present in all organs examined for up to 168 hours pi in the 3 poultry species except ceacal tonsils of ducks at 72 and 120 hours pi. Antigen score was highest in chickens and least in ducks as reflected by average of total scores/sampling time of 12, 10.8 and 8 in chickens, turkeys and ducks respectively. Total antigen score/sampling time in infected chickens peaked twice; 24/48 and 144 hours pi, whereas such bi-phasic peaks were absent in turkeys and ducks. Range of total antigen score at different sampling times was 7–17.5 in chickens, 10–13 in turkeys and 7–10 in ducks indicative of marked viral replication in chickens. Presence of IBD viral antigen in organs of all 3 poultry species is indicative of infections. The innate ability of turkeys and ducks to prevent appreciable replication of IBD virus after infection requires further investigation.     

H5亚型禽流感疫苗对特禽及水禽的免疫效果观察

用H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗,分别免疫SPF鸡、乌鸡、珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡、火鸡、鸭及鹅,免疫后采血测定其HI抗体,观察我国现有的H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗对特禽及水禽的免疫效力.结果,免疫后3周,SPF鸡、乌鸡、珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡、火鸡、鸭及鹅的平均HI抗体滴度分别为2 7.2、2 7.6、2 4.3、2 4.83、2 4.6、2 6.2及2 5.3,乌鸡两次免疫,其中一次HI抗体为2 9.65.试验证明,SPF鸡、特禽及水禽用H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗免疫后,均能产生一定水平的HI抗体,但不同种类的家禽所产生的HI抗体滴度存在较大差异,以SPF鸡及乌鸡所产生的HI抗体滴度最高,而珍珠鸡、贵妃鸡及火鸡所产生的HI抗体滴度较低,水禽对H5N2亚型禽流感疫苗可产生一定水平的HI抗体.     

Experimental pathogenesis for chickens, turkeys, and pigeons of exotic Newcastle disease virus from an outbreak in California during 2002-2003

Exotic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from chickens during the 2002-2003 California outbreak (CA exotic Newcastle disease [END] virus) was inoculated into 4-week-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens, 3-week-old SPF Beltsville White turkeys, 6-week-old commercial Broad Breasted White turkeys, and 10- to 20-week-old racing pigeons, and the clinicopathologic features of disease were compared. Birds were monitored clinically and euthanized sequentially with collection of tissues. Tissues were examined by histopathology, by immunohistochemistry to detect viral nucleoprotein, and by in situ hybridization to detect viral mRNA. Clinically, infected chickens and SPF turkeys showed severe depression, and all died or were euthanized because of severe clinical signs by day 5 postinoculation. In these birds, histologic lesions were widespread and virus was detected in multiple organs. All infected commercial turkeys showed mild depression, and incoordination was observed in some birds. Histologic lesions were mild, and viral distribution was limited. In pigeons, only 1 bird showed overt clinical disease, and histologic lesions and viral distribution were present in limited organs. Consequently, susceptibility to highly virulent NDV was shown to vary among chickens, SPF turkeys, commercial turkeys, and pigeons. Additionally, we have evidence of CA END virus subclinical infections that suggest pigeons could be subclinical carriers of other virulent NDV.     

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.     

Pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in various age groups of chickens and turkeys: clinical signs and virology

Age-related susceptibility patterns of turkeys, broilers, and specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens to experimentally induced infection with turkey or chicken rotavirus isolates were compared. The following determinants were evaluated: clinical signs, onset and duration of virus production, viral titers, involvement of intestinal villi in the replication of the virus, and the development of antibodies against the virus. Older turkeys and chickens were more susceptible than were their younger counterparts, turkeys were more susceptible than were broiler and White Leghorn chickens (regardless of age), and broiler chickens were slightly more susceptible than were age-matched White Leghorn chickens. Turkeys developed diarrhea, accompanied by high viral titers within 1 day after inoculation with virus. Viral antigen was found in the epithelial cells of the intestinal villi throughout the intestinal tract and some cells of the cecal tonsils. Antibodies could be detected as early as 4 to 5 days after inoculation. These findings were more pronounced in turkeys inoculated at 112 days of age than in birds inoculated at a younger age. Age-related susceptibility patterns were similar in White Leghorn and broiler chickens. Infection was subclinical in birds less than 56 days old, whereas older birds developed soft feces. Egg production in the White Leghorn chickens decreased after being inoculated with virus at 350 days of age.     

Vaccination for fowl plague

Influenza A/turkey/Oregon/71 virus has antigenic characteristics of fowl plague virus but is avirulent for chickens. The virus was inoculated intratracheally in chickens at several dosage levels and resulted in the formation of antibody and immunity against fowl plague. The avirulent virus replicated in chickens and was recoverable by tracheal swab specimens up to 4 days after inoculation. Although the virus was transmitted to contact controls at the time when their cagemates were inoculated, it was not transmitted to contact controls placed with chickens inoculated 24 hours earlier. After 10 passages in chickens, the virus remained avirulent for chickens and turkeys.     

Pathogenesis of Newcastle disease in commercial and specific pathogen-free turkeys experimentally infected with isolates of different virulence

The pathogenesis of five different Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates representing all pathotypes was examined in commercial and specific pathogen-free (SPF) turkeys. Experimentally-infected birds were monitored clinically and euthanatized, with subsequent tissue collection, for examination by histopathology, by immunohistochemistry for the presence of NDV nucleoprotein, and by in situ hybridization for the presence of replicating virus. Clinically, the lentogenic pathotype did not cause overt clinical signs in either commercial or SPF turkeys. Mesogenic viruses caused depression in some birds. Turkeys infected with velogenic neurotropic and velogenic viscerotropic isolates showed severe depression, and neurologic signs. Histologic appearances for all strains had many similarities to lesions observed in chickens inoculated with the various isolates; that is, lesions were present predominantly in lymphoid, intestinal, and central nervous tissues. However, in general, disease among turkeys was less severe than in chickens, and turkeys could be considered a subclinical carrier for some of the isolates.     

Microsomal and cytosolic biotransformation of aflatoxin B1 in four poultry species

1. This research evaluated differences in hepatic in vitro metabolism of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on selected avian species. 2. Microsomal and cytosolic liver fractions were obtained from chickens, ducks, quails and turkeys; eight males and eight females of each. 3. All microsomes studied produced AFB1-8,9-exo-epoxide (AFBO), a metabolite regarded as the active product of AFB1. Turkey microsomes produced 1.8 and 3.5 times more AFBO than quails and chickens microsomes, respectively. 4. Males from evaluated birds produced more AFBO than females, but statistically-significant differences between genders were observed only in ducks and turkeys. 5. The cytosolic fraction from all four species produced aflatoxicol (AFL). Turkey and duck hepatic cytosol produced more AFL than from quail and chickens. 6. It is known that turkeys are very sensitive to AFB1, quails are intermediate and chickens are particularly resistant; the differences in AFBO production shown in our study may help to explain the difference in vivo responses among turkeys, quail and chickens. 7. Moreover, AFL may be related to AFB1 toxicity; it was produced in larger amounts by hepatic cytosol from the more susceptible species. 8. Because AFBO production by microsomes in ducks was relatively low, it is possible that other toxicity mechanisms are involved in this highly susceptible species.     

INFECTION STUDIES ON A RETICULOENDOTHELIOSIS VIRUS CONTAMINANT OF A COMMERCIAL MAREK''S DISEASE VACCINE

Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) was isolated in cell cultures from commercial Marek's disease (herpesvirus of turkeys) vaccine and re-isolated from the organs of vaccinated chickens. Runting and feathering abnormalities were produced when 1-day-old specific pathogen free chickens were inoculated with REV. Histopathological lesions in infected chickens were hypoplasia of the thymus, bursa and spleen, and inflammation of the proventriculus, kidneys and liver. Serological responses to REV were detected by the indirect immunoflorescence test in chickens directly inoculated with contaminated vaccine, and spread of REV infection to in-contact chickens was demonstrated by histopathological and serological investigations.     

Comparative pathogenicity tests of eight pigeon paramyxovirus 1 variant isolates in pigeons, turkeys and chickens]

Eight pigeon paramyxovirus-1 isolates which were isolated from diseased pigeons were comparatively tested for their pathogenicity in chickens, turkeys and racing pigeons. Intramuscular inoculation of all of the eight viruses resulted in all pigeons in clinical signs like polyuria, lameness of wings and in parts also in torticollis. Also, intravenously inoculated chickens developed distinct signs such as apathy, liquid droppings and in part also torticollis. Six of the eight PMV-1 isolates induced in turkeys similar signs as in chickens; inoculation of two isolates yielded no signs in turkeys. Legal sanitary consequences of the disease due to pigeon PMV-1 infection in chickens and in turkeys should be identical to that of velogenic Newcastle disease.     

Cell-mediated immunity in Marek's disease: cytotoxic responses in resistant and susceptible chickens and relation to disease

Two experiments were conducted to study the cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from chickens inoculated with Marek's disease virus (MDV) against a Marek's disease-derived lymphoblastoid cell line (MSB-1) and to associate the cytotoxicity with incidence of disease. In experiment I, moderately susceptible random-bred, specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated with MDV (group 1), vaccinated with a herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) and inoculated with MDV (group 2), vaccinated with HVT and inoculated with chicken kidney cells (CKC; group 3), and inoculated with CKC only (group 4). Cytotoxic activity in the PBL was detected initially during the first week after MDV inoculation and periodically throughout the observation period (groups 1, 2, and 3). Throughout the observation period, the magnitude of cytotoxic activity was similar in PBL from groups 1 and 2 chickens. The PBL from both surviving and fatally infected chickens (groups 1 and 2) were similarly cytotoxic when sampled during the first 16 days after MDV inoculation. In experiment II, inbred genetically susceptible (line 7) and resistant (line 6) chickens were used. Cytotoxic activity of PBL of significantly greater magnitude was associated with a lower mortality or incidence of gross lesions (or both) in MDV-inoculated line 6 (group B) and HVT-vaccinated and MDV-inoculated line 7 (group C) chickens compared with activity of PBL from MDV-inoculated line 7 (group A) chickens. The cytotoxic activity of PBL from individual inbred chickens did not correlate with the outcome of the infection.     

Transmission and immunopathology of the avian influenza virus A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) human isolate in three commonly commercialized avian species

H7N9 virus infection is a global concern, given that it can cause severe infection and mortality in humans. However, the understanding of H7N9 epidemiology, animal reservoir species and zoonotic risk remains limited. This work evaluates the pathogenicity, transmissibility and local innate immune response of three avian species harbouring different respiratory distribution of α2,6 and α2,3 SA receptors. Muscovy ducks, European quails and SPF chickens were intranasally inoculated with 10⁵ embryo infectious dose (EID)₅₀ of the human H7N9 (A/Anhui/1/2013) influenza isolate. None of the avian species showed clinical signs or macroscopic lesions, and only mild microscopic lesions were observed in the upper respiratory tract of quail and chickens. Quail presented more severe histopathologic lesions and avian influenza virus (AIV) positivity by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which correlated with higher IL‐6 responses. In contrast, Muscovy ducks were resistant to disease and presented higher IFNα and TLR7 response. In all species, viral shedding was higher in the respiratory than in the digestive tract. Higher viral shedding was observed in quail, followed by chicken and ducks, which presented similar viral titres. Efficient transmission was observed in all contact quail and half of the Muscovy ducks, while no transmission was observed between chicken. All avian species showed viral shedding in drinking water throughout infection.