Comparative study of respiratory lesions in two chicken lines of different susceptibility infected with infectious bronchitis virus: histology, ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was inoculated intranasally into line C and line 151 chickens, which were resistant and highly susceptible, respectively, to IBV infection, and the resulting respiratory lesions compared. Histologically, damage to the mucociliary system of the respiratory tract in line 151 persisted longer than in line C. Using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method, IBV antigens were detected in histological sections of the tracheas of line 151 for a longer time than in line C. Ultrastructural studies confirmed the histological findings. Immuno-globulin G-, IgM- and IgA-containing cells were seen in the lamina propria and between epithelial cells in the trachea of both lines from at least 7 to 12 days after IBV inoculation but in greater numbers in line 151.