Table 1.
List of cytokine genes and the primers used for RT-PCR amplification.
Fig 1.
Histologic section in gastrocnemius tendon of turkeys at 14 dpi.
(A) TARV-infected turkey at 14 dpi showing subsynovial lymphocytic infiltration (Arrow). (B) Non-infected control at 14 dpi. Bar = 100 μm.
Fig 2.
Viral gene copy numbers as determined by RT-PCR.
Values represent the medians of five turkeys at each time point; (A) Intestines and bursa of Fabricius. Virus gene copy number significantly (P <0.05) peaked in jejunum, cecum and bursa of Fabricius at 4 dpi and a significantly declined at 7 dpi. (B) Internal organs have minimal gene copy number and a significant elevation (P <0.05) is present in tendons at 7 and 14 dpi. (C) Blood has minimal gene copy number that peaked at 4 dpi. Cloacal swabs, show detectable titer starting at 1–3 dpi and peaked at 14 dpi. Mann Whitney U test. *Significantly (P<0.05) higher than same tissue in other time points (before and after). X Significantly (P<0.05) higher than same tissue in the proceeding time points (before).
Fig 3.
Fold change in antiviral cytokines (IFN-α and IFN-β) and anti-inflammatory IL-10.
At 7 dpi IFN-α and IFN-β in jejunum and cecum of infected birds were significantly elevated. IL-10 is significatnly elevated in duodenum and jejunum of infected birds at 4 dpi and in jejunum and spleen of infected birds at 7 dpi. D: duodenum, J: jujenum, C: cecum, S spleen, Days refers to days post inoculation (dpi).* Analyses were performed in duplicate (Five turkeys/group at each time point) and values are mean ± 3SD. Differences between the infected and non-infected groups within the same organ are significant (P<0.05).
Fig 4.
Fold changes in Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines observed in turkeys.
Significant elevation of Th1 cytokine IFN-γ was observed in the jejunum of infected birds at 7 and 14 dpi and in spleen at 4, 7 and 14 dpi. The other Th1 cytokine, IL-12, shows significant elevation in jejunum and cecum of infected birds at 7 dpi. Th2 (IL-4 and IL-5) and Th17(IL-17) are not significantly different at P<0.05. D: duodenum, J: jujenum, C: cecum, S spleen, Days refers to days post inoculation (dpi). Analyses were performed in duplicate (Five turkeys/group at each time point) and values are mean ± 3SD. *Differences between infected group and non-infected groups within the same organ are significant (P<0.05).
Fig 5.
Fold change of IL-6 and IFN-γ in tendons at 14 dpi.
Both IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly elevated at 14 dpi in tendons of infected birds compared with non-infected control. Analyses were performed in duplicate (Five turkeys/group at each time point) and values are mean ± 3SD. *Differences between infected group and non-infected groups within the same organ are significant (P<0.05).
Fig 6.
Fold change in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and LITAF) and IL-2.
IL-6 and IL-2 are significantly elevated in dudenum and jejunum of infected birds at 4 and 7 dpi. LITAF has significantly higher fold increase in infected birds compared with non-infected control in jejunum and cecum at 7 dpi. D: duodenum, J: jujenum, C: cecum, S spleen, Days refers to number of days post inoculation (dpi). Analyses were performed in duplicate (Five turkeys/group at each time point) and values are mean + 3SD. *Difference between infected group and non-infected groups within the same organ are significant (P<0.05).