Comparative Pathological Changes Induced by Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Infection in Inoculated, Sentinel Pigeons and Chickens

Abstract

In this study, the authors determined whether vvIBDV could be transmitted from chickens to pigeons and vice versa, and the relative severity of the lesions in the two species. Thirty 3-to 6-week-old pigeons and thirty 3-week-old chickens were grouped as follows: A (10 uninoculated pigeons), B (10 inoculated pigeons+10 sentinel chickens), C (10 inoculated chickens+10 sentinel pigeons) and D (10 uninoculated chickens). Inoculated birds were administered 0.20 mL of vvIBDV (titre of 10 9.76 CID/mL) followed by introduction of their respective sentinels post-inoculation. Post-inoculation/exposure (pi/ pe), dead birds were necropsied, organs grossly examined, weighed, and sections processed for histopathology. Results revealed mild, gross and histopathological lesions in pigeons at 7 and 14 dpi/dpe. In chickens, gross and histopathological lesions were severe at 3 and 4 dpi/dpe, moderate at 7 dpi/dpe and mild at 14 dpi/dpe. Carcass weight showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in all pigeons, but was statistically higher in uninoculated compared to inoculated and sentinel chickens. Relative weight (RW) of the liver was significantly lower at 14 dpi/ dpe in pigeons. In chickens, RW of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) was significantly higher in inoculated and sentinel at 3 and 4 dpi/dpe. In conclusion, there was transmission of vvIBDV from pigeons to chickens and pathological changes due to vvIBDV infection were less severe in pigeons than in chickens.