LEUKOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN KIDNEY AND TRACHEA OF CHICKENS INFECTED WITH INFECTIOUS-BRONCHITIS VIRUS

Using immunohistochemical methods, we studied the nephropathogenicity of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)-strain V1648- and the leukocy te phenotypes in the pathological lesions in the kidneys and the trach ea formed after inoculation with this virus strain. One-day-old WLA ch ickens were intravenously inoculated, and after 5, 7 and 11 days their kidneys, trachea and lungs were removed. Monoclonal antibodies were u sed to detect viral antigen, and lymphoid and non-lymphoid cell popula tions. In serial sections, the detection of the viral antigen was corr elated to the phenotypes of the cells. At days 5 and 7 after inoculati on, viral antigen was detected in the epithelium and the interstitium of the kidney tubuli and in the epithelium of the trachea. The infiltr ated cells in these tissues were mainly of the T cell phenotype. The c ellular immune reaction was correlated with the detection of viral ant igen.