Role of monocytic cells in the pathogenesis of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chickens

We have recently found that respiratory and nephropathogenic IBVs show similar replication kinetics in respiratory mucosa explants whereas they replicate differently in monocytic cells: nephropathogenic IBV causes a sustainable replication whereas respiratory IBV does not. Now, we want to find out if this in vitro finding may explain why nephropathogenic IBV spreads to the kidneys.