Destruction of Lymphocytes by a Virulent Avian Influenza A Virus

Abstract

Infection of chickens by a virulent avian influenza A virus, A/turkey/Ont/7732/66 (H5N9), was associated with a severe lymphopenia. High titres of infectious virus were found in lymphoid tissues early in infection and were accompanied by severe damage to the lymphocyte populations as demonstrated by histopathological examination. Non-lymphoid cell populations in these tissues were unaffected, as were other organs examined. The viral nucleoprotein was localized by immunoperoxidase staining to lymphocytes in affected tissues early in infection.