A comparison between the effect of an avian reovirus and infectious bursal disease virus on selected aspects of the immune system of the chicken

Reovirus 81-176 was inoculated subcutaneously into day-old specific-pathogen-free leghorns and evaluated for its effects on the immune system over a 3-week period. Structural criteria included organ weights of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) and spleen (SP), scoring of histological lesions in the BF, SP, and thymus, and hematological analyses of the circulating leukocytes. Alterations in the functional capacity of the immune system were measured using the graft-versus-host reaction, the response of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) to mitogens, the ability of circulating monocytes to phagocytize latex beads, and the serological responses to Newcastle disease virus, sheep red blood cells, and Brucella abortus antigens. For comparison, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was similarly evaluated by most of the same tests. Structurally, reovirus 81-176 altered BF and SP organ weights, the total numbers of white blood cells in circulation, and the degree of follicular atrophy in the BF. Functionally, reovirus inoculation reduced both the response of PBLs to the phytohemagglutinin-P stimulation and monocyte uptake of latex beads. According to the protocols used here, no significant alteration in B-cell function could be detected in reovirus-infected chicks. With the exception of leukocyte hematology, IBDV-infected chicks had significantly altered responses in all tests used. By way of comparison, the effects of IBDV were more persistent and pronounced than were those seen with reovirus. The graft-versus-host reaction indicated an elevated and/or uninhibited response of T-cells in the blood of IBDV-infected chicks.     

Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

Response of embryonic chicken lymphocytes to in ovo exposure to lymphotropic viruses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine effects of virus exposure on embryonic lymphoid organ structure, apoptosis, and lymphoid cell subpopulations. ANIMALS: Eggs of specific pathogen free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens at embryonation day (ED) 17. PROCEDURES: Eggs were inoculated with 2,000 plaque-forming units (PFU) of serotype 1 herpesvirus (Marek's disease virus [MDV 1]), 2,000 PFU of herpesvirus of turkeys (MDV 3), or 1,000 embryo infectious doses (EID50) of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). On post-inoculation days (PID) 3 and 5, lymphoid organ to body weight ratios were determined, and bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were evaluated for lesions and apoptosis. Proportions of lymphoid cell subpopulations of PID-3 chicken embryos and 7- to 10-day-old chicks were quantitated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Lymphoid organ weights were similar in virus-free, MDV1, and IBDV groups. Embryos inoculated with 2,000 PFU MDV 3/egg had lower bursal weights than virus-free controls. In a repeated trial, MDV 3 (1,000 PFU to 4,000 PFU) did not reduce bursal weights among groups. Histologic changes were seen in bursae after MDV 1 and IBDV inoculation. Apoptosis was greater in bursae of MDV 1-infected embryos than controls. Lymphoid cell subpopulations were similar among all groups with the exception of CD8+ and IgM+ cells in spleens of IBDV-infected 10-day-old chicks. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infection with pathogenic strains of MDV 1 and IBDV did not alter lymphocyte subpopulations in embryos or cause complete destruction of lymphoid organs. Changes in lymphoid cell subpopulations exposed as embryos to IBDV were seen only after hatching.     

Indirect method for prediction of hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus in chickens by titration of antibodies in egg yolk.

Attempts were made to establish methods for indirect prediction of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in sera of laying hens and day-old chicks by determining if these are correlated to HI titers in egg yolks. For this purpose, geometric means of HI antibody titers in sera from 60 hens, yolks from 60 matched eggs, and sera from 180 day-old chicks of an identical vaccination program were measured and plotted. There was a significant correlation between HI antibody titers in yolks (X) and hens (Y), with a linear regression of Y = 23.24 + 0.47X and a correlation coefficient of r = 0.65. The linear regression between HI antibody titers in yolks (X) and chicks (Y) was Y = 6.33 + 0.36X (r = 0.58). Immunity to NDV in hens and their offspring can be maintained effectively, and the proper time for the vaccination or booster can be determined by reference to HI titers predicted from the linear regression in the present study. The approach of testing egg yolk for HI titers provides a feasible alternative to determining HI titers from blood samples and eliminates stress in birds during blood sampling.     

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.     

腺胃病变型鸡传染性支气管炎病毒强毒株的培育

用腺胃病变形鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分离株IBV－D971株接种1日龄SPF鸡，连续传10年代，培育出了腺胃病变型鸡传染性支气管炎强毒株IBV－D971J株。IBV－D971J10对SPF鸡胚的致病力为10^-6.45ELD50/0.2mL,对1日龄SPF鸡的致病力为10^-1.5LD50/1mL，从死亡鸡的心，肝，脾，肺，肾，腺胃，肌胃，法氏囊等均能分离到IBV，IBV－D971J10不含鸡新城疫，禽流感，鸡马立克氏病，鸡传染性法氏囊炎，网状内皮组绢增殖病等外源病毒，对SPF鸡可引起典型的腺胃炎，肌胃炎，间质性肾炎等是变化。     

CAV与REV共感染SPF鸡对疫苗免疫反应的抑制作用

用1日龄SPF鸡人工感染鸡贫血病毒(CAV)和禽网状内皮增生病病毒(REV),探讨病毒感染对鸡体疫苗免疫反应的影响。结果表明,在用禽流感病毒(AIV,H5和H9)疫苗免疫后,CAV与REV单独感染均显著抑制了鸡体对H5和H9亚型禽流感病毒灭活疫苗的HI抗体反应,在CAV与REV共感染后,这种抑制作用更为明显。CAV单独感染后鸡体对新城疫病毒(NDV)和传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)疫苗的免疫反应受到抑制,但与对照组在统计学上的差异不显著,然而,CAV可以显著加重REV感染对鸡体在NDV和IBDV疫苗免疫后抗体反应的抑制作用。从而证实CAV与REV共感染在疫苗免疫抑制上有协同作用。     

日粮铁缺乏对肉仔鸡机体抗氧化功能影响的研究

１日龄艾维茵肉仔鸡１００只,随机分为２组,每组设有重复,自由采食以玉米、淀粉、葡萄糖和大豆分离蛋白为主日粮,日粮中分别添加０（铁缺乏组）和１１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ铁（对照组）,饮用去离子水,分别于１和１４日龄皮下接种ＨＶＴ冻干苗、７和１４日龄滴鼻接种Ｌａｓｏｔａ系冻干苗。试验结果表明,肉仔鸡疫苗接种及饲养管理同前。铁缺乏组与对照组相比：４２日龄肝脏、胸腺、脾脏和法氏囊中过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）活性显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）、肝脏、胸腺和脾脏中谷胱甘肽过氯化物酶（ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ）活性显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０５）;４２日龄肝脏、胸腺、脾脏和法氏囊中脂质过氧化物（ＬＰＯ）含量显著升高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。铁营养状况与机体抗氧化功能密切相关,日粮铁缺乏机体抗氧化功能降低。     

鸡新城疫－传染性支气管炎－传染性法氏囊病三联灭活疫苗对不同日龄雏鸡的免疫效力研究

为评估鸡新城疫（ND）-传染性支气管炎（IB）-传染性法氏囊病（IBD）三联灭活疫苗对不同日龄和不同水平母源抗体雏鸡的免疫效力和持续期,本试验用该疫苗免疫7、14、21日龄SPF雏鸡和有母源抗体的普通雏鸡,免疫后采血测定ND血凝抑制抗体（HI Ab）、IB血凝抑制抗体（HI Ab）及IBD中和抗体（NA）,并用传染性法氏囊病病毒（IBDV）强毒攻击。结果显示,7日龄SPF雏鸡免疫后21 d ND HI抗体、IB HI抗体及IBD中和抗体效价分别为7.9log2、6.9log2和14.1log2,SPF鸡日龄越大,抗体水平越高;28日龄SPF鸡免疫后3个月,0.3 mL免疫剂量组试验鸡ND HI、IB HI及IBD中和抗体效价分别达6.5log2、6.1log2和13.6log2,IBDV攻毒保护率均为100%（10/10）;不同日龄普通雏鸡免疫效果与SPF鸡试验一致,抗体水平随鸡日龄增大而升高,IBD攻毒保护率也都达到100%（10/10）。试验结果证实,鸡新城疫-传染性支气管炎-传染性法氏囊病三联灭活疫苗可使7、14及21日龄SPF雏鸡和普通雏鸡产生良好的免疫力,对雏鸡的免疫期至少为3个月。     

Comparison of serological tests for antibodies against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bronchitis virus using ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay, a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the hemagglutination-inhibition assay

COMBSCORES determined using the ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay were compared with hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titers specific for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and with mean enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers determined using Agritech Systems, Inc., ELISA. COMBSCORES for NDV and IBV increased proportionately in a stepwise manner as HI titers increased. The ImmunoComb solid-phase immunoassay was ablt to produce endpoint titers on sera with NDV-HI titers of 0 through 320 and IBV-HI titers of 0 through 1024 without reaching the maximum S-value. The ImmunoComb showed good correlation with the HI assay and the Agritech ELISA and should prove to be a useful tool for serological profiling, either alone or in conjunction with the HI test or commercial ELISA.     

Comparison of two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and conventional methods for avian serology

Sera tested for hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) activity against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and virus-neutralizing (VN) activity against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and viral arthritis (VA) virus were collected from a wide variety of accessions into the Diagnostic Services Laboratory, Poultry Disease Research Center, University of Georgia. The sera were then segregated according to HI or VN titer to NDV, IBV, IBDV, or VA virus and stored frozen at -20 C until tested by two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). There was good correlation of mean Flockchek ELISA titers or EIA Systems sample-to-positive (S/P) ratios with specific HI or VN titers. Flockchek ELISA profile group 3 and EIA Systems mean S/P ratio of 1.12 corresponded to what were considered in our lab to be minimum protective titers for each antigen against virulent challenge in our area.     

Detection of infectious bursal disease vaccine viruses in lymphoid tissues after in ovo vaccination of specific-pathogen-free embryos.

Control of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) by vaccination is important for poultry production worldwide. Two vaccines, an IBDV immune complex (ICX) vaccine and an IBDV-2512 vaccine, were administered at 100 mean embryo infectious dose to specific-pathogen-free 18-day-old broiler embryos in ovo. At 3, 6, 9, 15, and 21 days post in ovo vaccination (PIOV), bursa, spleen, and thymus tissues were collected and analyzed for virus protein by antigen capture chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chicks were bled and antibody titers were determined by the antibody ELISA. At 21 days PIOV, chickens were challenged with a 1:500 dilution of an antigenic standard IBDV strain. At 28 days PIOV, birds were euthanatized and bursa weight:body weight ratios were determined. Embryos vaccinated with either vaccine exhibited 92% hatchability; however, within 1 wk of hatch, birds vaccinated with IBDV-2512 showed 56% mortality, whereas those given IBDV-ICX had only 3.2% mortality. Both IBDV-ICX and IBDV-2512 vaccines were detected in bursa, spleen, and thymus at day 3 PIOV. A 5-day delay in virus replication was observed with IBDV-ICX vaccine. By day 15 PIOV, the IBDV-ICX was no longer detectable in the bursa and spleen but persisted in the thymus. The IBDV-2512 vaccine persisted in the spleen and thymus on day 15 PIOV. By day 21 PIOV, neither vaccine virus was detected in any lymphoid organ. This assay can be useful in the early detection of vaccine virus in the tissues of chickens vaccinated via the in ovo route. Both vaccines caused bursal atrophy at all times PIOV. The IBDV-2512 caused splenomegaly at day 6 PIOV, whereas splenomegaly was not seen in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated birds until day 9 PIOV. Thymus atrophy was observed in IBDV-2512-vaccinated chicks from day 3 PIOV, whereas this occurred on day 15 PIOV in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated birds. Bursa weight: body weight ratios in IBDV-ICX-vaccinated unchallenged and vaccinated challenged birds were not different (P < 0.05).     

Susceptibility of ducks and duck-origin cell cultures to infectious bursal disease virus

Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) ducks that were 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 30, and 180 days old were inoculated experimentally orally or nasally with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Attempts to induce clinical disease in ducks with strain J1 or FK-78 of IBDV were unsuccessful. Virus-recovery attempts from organ and intestinal contents were also unsuccessful. No significant gross or histopathological lesions were found in liver, spleen, kidney, heart, or bursa of Fabricius of 1- and 3-day-old ducks at 4 or 7 days postinoculation. The ratios of bursa weight to body weight of 1-, 10-, and 30-day-old inoculated and control ducks revealed no difference at 21 days postinoculation. The ducks responded serologically, however, by developing both virus-neutralizing and agar-gel-precipitin antibodies. Virus multiplied in embryonated duck eggs and duck embryo fibroblast cells but not in duck kidney cells.     

实验性肉雏维生素A缺乏对免疫器官影响的形态学研究

150只一日龄罗曼混合肉雏被随机分为四组,分别饲喂含维生素A为0、750、3000和6000IU的日粮。在20、30和45日龄时,每组剖检5只鸡,分离并称重免疫器官后,取材,石蜡包埋,切片,镜检。结果表明:维生素A缺乏和不足使免疫器官组织萎缩,间质结缔组织增生,上皮角化,腔上囊和胸腺的相对重量明显减少(P<0.01)。对免疫器官的损害程度是腔上囊>胸腺>脾脏>盲肠扁桃体。提高日粮中维生素A含量有提高肉雏增重、饲料报酬和免疫器官相对重量之趋势。     

Impact of BSE on Livestock Production System

A total of 240 unvaccinated day-old broiler chicks, which had been found to be negative for antibodies against FAV-4, were divided into four groups of 60 chicks each. Group A was fed aflatoxin at 1 ppm from 7 days to 7 weeks of age. Group V was infected intra-abdominally at 14 days of age with 0.2 ml of FAV-4, having a titre of 10^5.5 TCID₅₀ per 0.2 ml. The combined group AV was given the aflatoxin and infected with FAV-4. The fourth group C served as the control. More pronounced clinical signs, a higher mortality rate (56.7%), and reductions in body weight gain and in the organ to body weight ratios of the bursa and spleen were recorded in group AV. A significant (p<0.01) reduction in the HI antibody titre following vaccination against Newcastle disease, and of skin thickness in the delayed hypersensitivity test following sensitization with DNCB, indicated an additive immunosuppressive effect from aflatoxin and FAV-4 on the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in group AV compared to groups A and V. Microscopically, marked depletion and degeneration of lymphocytes in the thymus, bursa, spleen and caecal tonsils were observed in group AV up to 5 weeks PI.     

Embryo vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus alone or in combination with Marek's disease vaccine

Studies with specific-pathogen-free chickens revealed that chicks hatching from eggs inoculated at the 18th day of embryonation with infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine viruses of low virulence (isolates TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV) developed antibody against IBD virus (IBDV) and resisted challenge with virulent IBDV at 3 weeks of age or older. Embryo vaccination did not adversely affect hatchability of chicks or survival of hatched chicks. Chicks embryonally vaccinated with TC-IBDV had transient histologic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius at hatch. Similar but milder lesions were also noted in chickens that received TC-IBDV at hatch. The level of protection following embryo vaccination with TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV was similar to that following vaccination with the same vaccines at hatch. Vaccine viruses of moderate virulence (isolates BV-IBDV and 2512-IBDV) were not suitable as vaccines in embryos lacking maternal antibody to IBDV, because the vaccinated chicks developed acute IBD after hatch. Isolate 2512-IBDV was not pathogenic for embryos bearing maternal antibody to IBDV. Maternal antibody against IBDV interfered with efficacy of embryo vaccination with BVM-IBDV but not with 2512-IBDV. Embryo vaccination with a mixture of vaccines against IBD and Marek's disease resulted in protection of hatched chicks against challenge with virulent IBDV and Marek's disease virus.     

Effect of infectious bursal disease on the response of chickens to Mycoplasma synoviae, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus.

At 35 days of age, chickens which as 1-day-old chicks were inoculated with the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) had significantly lower antibody titers against Mycoplasma synoviae, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus than did those never inoculated with IBDV. The IBDV also had a marked effect on the development of air-sac lesions. Birds infected with IBDV that were later inoculated with M synoviae (day 14), Newcastle disease virus (days 14 and 28) experienced an increased incidence and greater seversity of airsacculitis than did chicks which were not exposed to IBDV.     

Immunostimulant effect of a mixed herbal extract on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccinated chickens in the context of a co-infection model of avian influenza virus H9N2 and IBDV

This study was conducted to assess the comparative effects of a mixed herbal extract (MHE) containing Ocimum sanctum, Withania somnifera, Emblica officinalis, Tinospora cordifolia, Mangifera indica, and Asphaltum (shilajit) on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)-vaccinated (VAC) chickens infected with IBDV and avian influenza virus (AIV) H9N2. The experiment included three groups (G1-G3): G1, the negative control group; G2, the VAC + challenged (Ch) group; and G3, the VAC + Ch + MHE group. MHE was orally administered continuously for 5 weeks post-vaccination (PV) with IBDV at 12 days of age, and the chicks were simultaneously challenged with virulent IBDV (intraocularly) and AIV H9N2 (intranasally) at 21 days PV. Blood and tissue samples as well as tracheal and cloacal swabs were gathered at different times PV and post-challenge. Immunological and haematological parameters, histopathological lesions, relative organ weights and final live weights revealed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between G2 and G3 groups. Furthermore, in the G3 group, the protection rates, ELISA and HI titers and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly increased, whereas viral shedding titers and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio were decreased. In conclusion, the oral administration of the mixed herbal extract for 5 weeks can stimulate the immune response to IBDV vaccination and relieves the pathogenicity of an AIV H9N2 and IBDV co-infection in chickens.     

朗德鹅禽流感病毒的分离与鉴定

用禽流感病毒ELISA试剂盒对某朗德鹅养殖场的病鹅气管粘液进行了检测，发现5份粘液样本均呈禽流感阳性；随后取相应气管组织材料接种于9～11日龄鸡胚分离病毒．发现尿囊液能使鸡红细胞发生凝集，用禽流感病毒H5、H7、H9标准阳性血清和新城疫病毒、传染性支气管炎病毒、传染性喉气管炎病毒、传染性法氏囊炎病毒抗血清作HI试验，结果禽流感病毒H5亚型抗血清的血凝抑制滴度达到2^7，而禽流感病毒H7、H9亚型及其他病毒抗血清无血凝抑制滴度，说明从朗德鹅分离到的病毒为H5亚型禽流感病毒。     

Immune dysfunction following infection with chicken anemia agent and infectious bursal disease virus. I. Kinetic alterations of avian lymphocyte subpopulations.

The potential effect of chicken anemia agent (CAA) alone or in combination with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) on the immune system of young chickens was determined by measuring alterations in hematocrit values, lymphoid organ-to-body weight ratios and lymphoid cell concentrations at 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 28 and 42 days post-inoculation (PI). Lymphocyte subpopulations were identified and counted by flow cytometry using cell suspensions stained with monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) for panlymphocytes (K55), cytotoxic T-cells (CTLA3), T-helper cells (CT3), Ia-expressing cells (P2M11) and macrophages (P7). Chicken anemia agent induced a substantial but transient decrease in hematocrit value, thymus-to-body weight ratio and bursa-to-body weight ratio between 7 and 21 days PI corresponding to a generalized lymphocytopenia in the thymus, bursa and spleen. However, cytotoxic T-cell, T-helper cell and Ia-expressing cell concentrations increased in the bone marrow of birds inoculated with CAA alone or in combination with IBDV during the same time period. T-helper-to-cytotoxic T-cell ratios increased in the thymus and spleen during severe lymphocytopenia, indicating a selective decrease in cytotoxic T-cells. T-helper-to-cytotoxic T-cells ratios increased in the bone marrow, indicating a selective increase in T-helper cell concentrations. The increase in Ia-expressing cells in the bone marrow may be a reflection of increased number of activated T-cells which express Ia antigen. Infectious bursal disease virus alone induced a persistent depression of Ia-expressing cells in the bursa and the spleen and no measurable change in the bone marrow lymphocyte subpopulations. Chickens inoculated simultaneously with CAA and IBDV experienced clinical signs observed in chickens inoculated with each virus separately with a prolonged acute phase prior to recovery or mortality.