Pathogenic and immunogenic responses in turkeys following in ovo exposure to avian metapneumovirus subtype C

Ra Mi Cha, Mahesh Khatri, Manohar Mutnal, Jagdev M. Sharma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Commercial turkey eggs, free of antibodies to avian metapneumovirus subtype C (aMPV/C), were inoculated with aMPV/C at embyronation day (ED) 24. There was no detectable effect of virus inoculation on the hatchability of eggs. At 4 days post inoculation (DPI) (the day of hatch (ED 28)) and 9 DPI (5 days after hatch), virus replication was detected by quantitative RT-PCR in the turbinate, trachea and lung but not in the thymus or spleen. Mild histological lesions characterized by lymphoid cell infiltration were evident in the turbinate mucosa. Virus exposure inhibited the mitogenic response of splenocytes and thymocytes and upregulated gene expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 in the turbinate tissue. Turkeys hatching from virus-exposed eggs had aMPV/C-specific IgG in the serum and the lachrymal fluid. At 3 week of age, in ovo immunized turkeys were protected against a challenge with pathogenic aMPV/C.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)30-36
Number of pages7
JournalVeterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Volume140
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Avian metapneumovirus
  • In ovo vaccine
  • Turkeys

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • General Veterinary

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