Inoculation of specific pathogen-free chickens with an infectious bursal disease virus of the ITA genotype (G6) leads to a high and persistent viral load in lymphoid tissues and to a delayed antiviral response

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) of the ITA genotype (G6) was shown to have peculiar molecular characteristics and, despite a subclinical course, aggressiveness towards lymphoid tissues after experimental infection of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare with a Classical IBDV strain, ITA IBDV distribution and persistence in various tissues (bursa of Fabricious, spleen, thymus, bone...