ARS | Publication request: Role of alveolar macrophages in dissemination of Marek’s disease virus from lungs to lymphoid organs

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 5, 2012
Publication Date: August 5, 2012
Citation: Heidari, M. 2012. Role of alveolar macrophages in dissemination of Marek’s disease virus from lungs to lymphoid organs. American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract. Paper No. 12500.

Technical Abstract: To understand the specific role of macrophages in the control or exacerbation of Marek’s disease (MD), alveolar macrophages of chickens were depleted by intra-tracheal (IT) instillation of Cl2MBP. Forty-eight hours post treatment chicks were inoculated with 100 micro liter of cell-free MD virus (MDV) suspension via IT instillation. Selected birds were sacrificed at different time points before and after inoculation. To determine the role of macrophage depletion in virus dissemination and progression of disease, spleen, bursa, thymus, and lung tissues were collected for immunohistochemical and histological analysis and select virus/host gene expression profiling. The remaining chickens were monitored for signs of MD and necropsied at 8 weeks post exposure for final tissue analysis and determining the effect of macrophage depletion on tumor development. Data indicate that macrophages play a dual role in both the spread and control of MDV.