Experimental infection of turkeys with infectious bursal disease virus and the effect on the immunocompetence of infected turkeys.

Turkeys of various ages were infected with strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Pathological signs of infection were detected only in turkeys 1 day old when infected. No differences in antibody responses to IBDV or virus recovery were observed between turkeys of various ages at the time of infection. Cellular and humoral immune responses were suppressed following infection of day-old turkeys. The effects varied with virus strain.