IMMUNOSUPPRESSION AND INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM SIGNALING IN SPLENOCYTES FROM CHICKS INFECTED WITH CHICKEN ANEMIA VIRUS, CL-1 ISOLATE

Hematocrits, histopathology, concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte prolife ration, intracellular calcium signaling, and lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed over a 6-week period in individual chicks inoculated wi th the CL-1 isolate of chicken anemia virus. Lymphoid depletion/atroph y was present in the thymus and bone marrow by 11 days postinfection ( PI). Anemia was present at 14 days PI. The mean lymphocyte proliferati on stimulation index (SI) of the inoculated group was significantly lo wer than that of the control group at 11 days PI. This response was re versed at 18 days PI, when the SI of the inoculated group was signific antly higher than that of the controls; values subsequently returned t o baseline. The increase in intracellular calcium levels in CAV-infect ed chicks and controls paralleled the proliferative response. Percenta ges of CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, and natural-killer-positive-staining cells de creased significantly at 18 and 25 days PI. The most dramatic decrease occurred in the CD8-positive staining cell population at 18 and 25 da ys PI.