Failure of Two Serotype II Infectious Bursal Disease Viruses to Affect the Humoral Immune Response of Turkeys

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Abstract
The effect of serotype II infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) isolates from turkeys on the hormonal response of turkey poults was determined. Following exposure to the OH IBDV isolate, poults in 2 experiments were inoculated with sheep red blood cells, which is a T-dependent antigen, and poults in 2 other experiments were inoculated with Salmonella heidelberg O antigen, which is a T-independent antigen. Prior exposure to serotype II IBDV did not affect serum antibody titers to these antigens. IBDV infection also did not affect the concentrations of serum IgM, IgG or IgA in these poults. Bursa:body weight ratios of OH IBDV-infected poults were not significantly different from those of uninfected controls. In 1 experiment, the humoral immune response of poults to the LaSota Newcastle disease vaccine was not affected by infection with the MO IBDV isolate. Although no clinical infectious bursal disease was observed in any poult in these experiments, the serotype II IBDV isolates were infectious and transmissible in poults.