FIG 4.

Viral genome loads in the blood and feathers of inoculated chickens. (A and B) DNA was extracted from PBMC (A) or feathers (B) of chickens inoculated with vRB1B (in red), vΔUL47 (in blue) or vΔUL48 (in green) at 7, 14, and 21 days postinoculation. Viral genomes were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR, and their numbers are indicated per million of cells. In addition, viral genome loads were quantified in PBMCs obtained at 44 days postinoculation from the four surviving ΔUL48-infected chickens. Significance of differences between the median viral loads in vΔUL47- or vΔUL48-infected birds and those in vRB1B-infected birds were determined using a Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. ns, not significant (P > 0.5); **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001.