REPLICATION OF 4 ANTIGENIC TYPES OF AVIAN REOVIRUS IN SUBPOPULATIONS OF CHICKEN LEUKOCYTES

The replication of four antigenic types of avian reovirus in various s ubpopulations of avian leukocytes was investigated. Virus replication was detected in infected cells by immunofluorescence using a monoclona l antibody against a virion protein and by electron microscopy. All fo ur types of reovirus replicated in cultured, adherent mononuclear cell s of both bone marrow and peripheral blood origin causing lysis and fu sion of the infected cells. Some evidence of strain variation in the c apacity of avian reoviruses to replicate in these cells was detected. Avian reovirus did not replicate in heterophils or thrombocytes of per ipheral blood origin or in bursa or thymus-derived lymphocytes.