SummaryInfectious bursal disease (IBD) is an infectious viral disease of fowl. It occurs in a clinical and subclinical form depending on age at infection, the later being more prevalent. The virion is non-enveloped and consists of a segmented RNA molecule. The virus is resistant to physical and chemical agents and persists for long in a contaminated environment. Three serotypes of the virus have been identified. Natural outbreaks occur in the fowl and more rarely in the turkey. Chickens three to seven week old are the most susceptible although it has been reported at nine-days and in 20-week-old birds. The virus is lymphocidal with lesions predominantly seen in the bursa of Fabricius. Infection results in supression of humoral and cellular immunity. Immune complexes, haemolytic complement and calcium amongst others may play some part in the pathogenesis of the disease. Vaccination of potential breeding hens with an inactivated oil-emulsion vaccine for transfer of maternal antibody to progeny chicks is widely used as a control measure for IBD.
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Abdu et al. (1986) studied this question.
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