ARS | Publication request: LACK OF IMMUNODEPRESSION IN THE ANTIGEN SPECIFIC CELL MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE AFTER CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT OR VERY VIRULENT MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS STRAINS

Submitted to: Workshop on Molecular Pathogenesis of Marek's Disease and Avian Immunology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 6, 2002
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Infection with Marek's disease is known to produce a generalized "immunodepression" to the cell-mediated immune response as measured by reduced mitogen stimulation. We used the major histocompatibility complex restricted (MHC) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to the avian leukosis virus (ALV) to monitor for immunodepression induced by MDV to the antigen specific cell mediated immune response. Control chickens were compared with chickens challenged with either virulent (vMDV strain Md5) very-virulent (vvMDV strain 648A) MDV strains. Four days after challenge with MDV the experimental chickens were challenged with ALV. Fourteen days after the initial challenges with MDV (ten days after challenge with ALV) the MHC restricted antigen specific CTL response to ALV was assayed. We observed no depression of the CTL response to ALV induced by either the v or vv-MDV strains as compared to control chickens. We conclude that the immunodepressive effects of MDV challenge may be generalized but does not dramatically affect the cell mediated antigen specific immune response to ALV.