Abstract
Pokeweed mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from chickens infected with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at 1 day and 3 wk of age, together with those from uninfected age-matched control chickens, were examined at weekly intervals for their capacity to undergo in vitro terminal differentiation. The study included the determination of cytoplasmic Ig (CIg)-containing peripheral blood lymphocytes and those bearing the surface membrane Ig (SmIg) cells to detect any defect in Ig synthesis and secretion, respectively. There was a highly significant and pronounced progressive depletion of CIg-containing cells in chickens infected at 1 day of age. IBDV affected the immature or precursor B cells to a far greater extent than mature B lymphocytes.

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