Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences, Volume 15 (Number 2). August, 2017
Evaluation of pathological changes of natural infectious bursal disease virus infection in the lymphoid organs of Black Harco pullets
AO Igwe1*, OJ Nwachukwu1, CN Chinyere2 & I Shittu2
1. Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria
2. Nigeria Regional Laboratory for Animal Influenzas and other Transboundary Animal Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01, 930010, Plateau state, Nigeria
*Correspondence: Tel.:+2348034509991; E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract This study examined the sequential pathological changes in the lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricius, thymus, spleen and caecal tonsils) of 7-week-old Harco pullet chicks that showed severe clinical disease and lesions during a natural infection with a virulent infectious bursal disease virus. Clinical signs were sleepiness, droopy appearance, greenish-whitish diarrhoea, anorexia and prostration followed by death. Mortality rate was 78% within 3 days of the infection followed by recovery. Gross lesions were marked haemorrhages in the pectoral and thigh muscles, mucosa of the proventriculus and gizzard junction, and caecal tonsils. Bursa of Fabricius, thymus, spleen and kidneys were initially enlarged; however, bursa of Fabricius and thymus were later atrophic. Histologic lesions showed marked oedema, infiltration of heterophils, hyperaemia, and lymphoid depletion and hyperplastic Keywords: Infectious bursal disease, Lymphoid organs, Pathology, Pullets |