A SEQUENTIAL HISTOPATHOLOGIC AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF CHICKENS, TURKEY POULTS, AND BROILER BREEDERS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH TURKEY RHINOTRACHEITIS VIRUS

The histopathologic changes and the distribution of turkey rhinotrache itis virus (TRTV) antigen in the respiratory and reproductive tracts o f experimentally infected chickens, turkey poults, and broiler breeder s is described. TR?lr antigen was detected using both immunofluorescen t staining of cryostat sections and immunoperoxidase staining of forma lin-fixed tissues. Viral antigen was observed associated with the cili a of the epithelial cells of turbinates, trachea, and lung. No TRTV an tigen and no histopathologic changes were detected in the conjunctiva of any of the sacrificed birds, or in the reproductive tract and centr al nervous system of broiler breeders. The main histopathologic lesion s and sites of TRTV replication were observed in the ciliated epitheli al cells of turbinates and lung. These findings bring forward new info rmation about pathologic changes and TRTV antigen distribution in tiss ues of experimentally infected birds.