A pathogenesis study of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N2 in chickens, using immunohistochemistry

Eighteen specific pathogen-free chickens (nine hens older than 1 year and nine 15-week-old males) were inoculated with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/Chicken/Pennsylvania/1370/1983 (H5N2). Birds were serially killed and tissues collected for histological and immunohistochemical evaluation. In the group of older hens, disease was acute or peracute. By immunohistochemistry, antigen was abundant in capillary endothelium in multiple organs, and staining for antigen in parenchymal cells was marked in brain and heart. In the group of younger male birds, disease was subacute. Immunohistochemical staining of capillary endothelium was less pronounced and viral antigen staining was evident in the parenchymal cells of the heart, brain and kidney.