In the present study, the expression level of the TLR3-IRF7-IFN-α/β and the downstream antiviral factors PKR, OAS and Mx in ILP cells were significantly upregulated at 8 hpi and 12 hpi as compared to the uninfected control, suggesting that IBDV activates the TLR3 antiviral signal pathway in the gut at the early stage of infection. This evidence concerns the gene IRF7 and infection.