Production of circulating and cell-bound interferon in chickens by type 1 and type 2 plaque-producing agents of the Cal-1 strain of Marek's disease herpesvirus and herpesvirus of turkeys
Kaleta, E.F.; Bankowski, R.A.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 33(3): 573-577
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 4335399 Document Number: 52010
Type 1 plaque-producing agent (PPA) of the Cal-1 strain of Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDHV) produced circulating interferon in 2-day old and 5-week-old chickens. Interferon was not detected following infection by type 2 PPA or herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) or by cells from non-inoculated chicken kidney cell cultures. An initial peak in interferon production occurred 7-8 hours after inoculation. A second peak was evident 5-6 days after the primary response Interferon was still present at termination of the experiment 13 days later. Interferon was also detected in extracts of brain tissue from birds which died with lesions of Marek's disease after being inoculated with MDHV. Use of the assay for circulating interferon is proposed for quantitative determinations of the growth of type 1 PPA in chickens.