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Pathogen Page

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV)

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

2. Disease:

Infectious Bursal Disease

3. Introduction

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a highly contagious disease of young chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), characterized by immunosuppression and mortality generally at 3 to 6 weeks of age. It is economically important to the poultry industry worldwide due to increased susceptibility to other diseases and negative interference with effective vaccination. In recent years, very virulent strains of IBDV (vvIBDV), causing severe mortality in chicken, have emerged in Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

4. Microbial Pathogenesis

The virus is attracted to lymphoid cells and especially those of B-lyphocyte origins. Young birds at around two to eight weeks of age that have highly active bursa of Fabricius are more susceptible to disease. Birds over eight weeks are resistant to challenge and will not show clinical signs unless infected by highly virulent strains.
After ingestion, the virus destroys the lymphoid follicles in the bursa of Fabricius as well as the circulating B-cells in the secondary lymphoid tissues such as GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissue), CALT (conjunctiva), BALT (Bronchial) cecal tonsils, Harderian gland, etc. Acute disease and death is due to the necrotizing effect of these viruses on the host tissue. If the bird survives and recovers from this phase of the disease, they remain immunocompromised which means they are more susceptible to other diseases and vaccination in the face of outbreak will not be effective (Wiki: Infectious Bursal Disease).

5. Host Ranges and Animal Models

Chickens

6. Host Protective Immunity

Passive immunity protects against disease, as does previous infection with avirulent strains. In broiler farms, breeder flocks are immunized against IBD so that they would confer protective antibodies to their progenies which would be slaughtered for consumption before their passive immunity wears out (Wiki: Infectious Bursal Disease).

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