High virus titer in feather pulp of chickens infected with subgroup J avian leukosis virus

Subgroup J avian leukosis viruses (ALVs), which are a recombinant virus between exogenous and endogenous ALVs, can spread by either vertical or horizontal transmission. Exogenous and endogenous ALVs can be detected in feather pulp. In this study, virus titers in feather pulp of chickens infected with subgroup J ALV were compared with those of plasma and cloacal swab. All of the broiler chickens inoculated with subgroup J ALV at 1 day old were positive for virus from feather pulp during the experimental period of between 2 wk and 8 wk of age. Virus titers in feather pulp of some broiler chickens infected with subgroup J ALV were very high, ranging from 10(7) to 10(8) infective units per 0.2 ml. Virus titers in feather pulp were usually the highest among the samples of plasma, cloacal swab, and feather pulp tested. In another experiment in which layer chickens were inoculated with subgroup J ALV at 1 day old, virus was detected in feather pulp from 2 wk until 18 wk of age, and virus persisted longer in feather pulp than in plasma. Almost all of the layer chickens tested were positive for virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA extracted from feather pulp samples at 2, 4, and 10 wk of age, and the PCR from feather pulp was more sensitive than virus isolation from plasma, cloacal swab, and feather pulp. All above results indicate that samples of feather pulp can be useful for virus isolation and PCR to confirm subgroup J ALV infection.     

Pathogenicity of two recombinant avian leukosis viruses

We have recently described the isolation and molecular characteristics of two recombinant avian leukosis subgroup J viruses (ALV J) with an avian leukosis virus subgroup A envelope (r5701A and r6803A). In the present study, we examined the role of the subgroup A envelope in the pathogenesis of these recombinant viruses. Chickens of line 151(5) x 7(1) were inoculated at 1 day of age with r5701A, r6803A, Rous-associated virus type 1 (RAV-1), or strain ADOL-Hcl of ALV-J. At 2, 4, 10, 18, and 32 wk postinoculation (PI), chickens were tested for avian leukosis virus (ALV)-induced viremia, shedding, and neutralizing antibodies. All except one chicken inoculated with the recombinant viruses (98%) developed neutralizing antibodies by 10 wk PI compared with only 16% and 46% of the ADOL-Hcl and RAV-1-inoculated birds, respectively. ALV-induced tumors and mortality in the two groups inoculated with recombinant viruses were different. The incidence of tumors in groups inoculated with r5701A or RAV-1 was 100% compared with only 9% in the groups inoculated with r6803A or ADOL-Hcl. The data suggest that differences in pathogenicity between the two recombinant viruses might be due to differences in the sequence of the 3' untranslated region (presence or absence of the E element), and, therefore, not only the envelope but also other elements of the viral genome play an important role in the pathogenesis of ALV.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to exogenous avian leukosis virus

A microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibodies to avian leukosis virus (ALV) of subgroups A and B in infected chickens was developed with the use of Rous-associated virus (RAV)-1 (subgroup A) and RAV-2 (subgroup B) antigens purified by sucrose-gradient centrifugation. The antigen was used for ELISA after treatment with Triton X-100. In the ELISA, the subgroup viral antigen reacted strongly with homologous antiserum but also reacted with heterologous antiserum. Tests with serum absorbed with purified homologous and heterologous virus and tests for antigen-blocking by group-specific antibodies to ALV revealed that the reaction was caused mainly by subgroup-specific antibodies. The ELISA was 8 to 32 times more sensitive than the virus-neutralization (VN) test and detected antibodies to ALV earlier than the VN test in chickens infected experimentally with RAV-1 and RAV-2. In field application of the ELISA, 44.2% of 484 chicken sera were positive for RAV-1 and/or RAV-2 antigen, and 80.4% of flocks were positive. These findings indicate that ELISA is superior to the VN test in sensitivity, simplicity, rapidity, and applicability for large-scale field surveys for ALV infection.     

Tissue tropism and bursal transformation ability of subgroup J avian leukosis virus in White Leghorn chickens

In Experiment 1, a monoclonal antibody against the envelope glycoprotein (gp85) of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) was used to study the distribution of ALV-J in various tissues of White Leghorn chickens inoculated as embryos with the strain ADOL-Hcl of ALV-J. At 2 and 6 wk of age, various tissues from infected and control uninfected chickens were tested for the presence of ALV-J gp85 by immunohistochemistry. In Experiment 2, using the methyl green-pyronine (MGP) stain, sections of bursa of Fabricius (BF) from chickens of line 15I5 x 7(1), inoculated with ALV-J or Rous-associated virus-1 (RAV-1), a subgroup A ALV, at hatch were examined for transformation of bursal follicles at 4 and 10 wk of age. In Experiment 1, specific staining indicative of the presence of ALV-J gp85 was noted at both 2 and 6 wk of age in the adrenal gland, bursa, gonads, heart, kidney, liver, bone marrow, nerve, pancreas, proventriculus, spleen, and thymus. In Experiment 2, by 10 wk of age, transformed bursal follicles were detected in MGP-stained sections of BF in only one of five (20%) chickens inoculated with ALV-J at hatch, compared with five of five (100%) chickens inoculated with RAV-1. The data demonstrate distribution of ALV-J gp85 in various tissues of White Leghorn chickens experimentally inoculated as embryos with the virus. The data also confirm our previous observation that ALV-J is capable of inducing transformation of bursal follicles, albeit the incidence is less frequent than that induced by subgroup A ALV.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to avian leukosis viruses

Hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibody (MCA) to avian leukosis virus (ALV) structural proteins p27 and p19 have been established. In an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), MCA 6AL20 (IgG1 isotype) reacted with RPL-40 (ALV subgroup A), avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) (a mixture of subgroups A and B), Rous-associated virus (RAV)-2 (subgroup B), and Carr-Zilber strain of Rous sarcoma virus (CZ-RSV) (subgroup D) but not with Prague strain of RSV (PrC-RSV) (subgroup C) or the endogenous virus RAV-0 (subgroup E). MCA 6AL22 reacted as above and also reacted marginally with PrC-RSV. Both MCAs immunoprecipitated p19 from 35S-methionine-labeled chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) infected with RPL-40 or RAV-1, but not from CEFs infected with RAV-0, thus identifying the viral structural protein p19 as a polypeptide with subgroup-specific epitopes. Both MCAs can be used to differentiate RPL-40 from RAV-0 infection either in an indirect antibody ELISA or by immunoprecipitation. A third MCA, 6AL42 (IgG2a isotype), reacted with the above viruses of subgroups A, B, C, and D at an antibody titer up to 1000-fold higher than with subgroup E RAV-0 virus in indirect ELISAs. MCA 6AL42 immunoprecipitated p27 from cells infected with RPL-40, RAV-1, or RAV-0. These MCAs are potentially useful in developing immunological tests for differentiation of ALV strains.     

Detection and characterization of avian leukosis virus in Marek's disease vaccines

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) infection in chickens is known to induce increased mortality, tumors, delayed growth, and suboptimal egg production. Countries importing specified pathogen-free eggs, vaccines, and poultry breeding stock require freedom of infection or contamination with ALV in such products among other avian pathogens. Recently, ALV was found as a contaminant in a limited number of commercial poultry vaccines, even after routine quality assurance procedures cleared the vaccines for commercialization. The contaminated vaccines were promptly withdrawn from the market, and no direct detrimental effects were reported in poultry vaccinated with such vaccines. We describe herein the characterization in vitro of the contaminant viruses. All exogenous viruses detected in four vaccine lots belong to subgroup A of ALV based on cell receptor interaction, subgroup-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), envelope gene sequencing, and virus neutralization. A combination of thermal treatment and serial dilutions of the contaminated vaccines facilitated detection of contaminating ALVs in cell culture coupled with antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subgroup-specific PCR readily detected ALV-A directly in the contaminated vaccines but not in naive vaccines or cell controls. Our methods are proposed as complementary procedures to the currently required complement fixation for avian leukosis test for detection of ALV in commercial poultry vaccines.     

Experimental infection with avian leukosis virus isolated from Marek's disease vaccines

Recently, avian leukosis virus (ALV) was isolated from four lots of Marek's disease vaccine produced by two laboratories. The ALVs isolated were characterized by examination of their interactions with cells of two phenotypes (C/E and C/A,E), subgroup-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), virus neutralization, envelope gene sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. All four ALVs are exogenous, belong to subgroup A, and appear to be virtually identical to each other based on PCR and envelope gene nucleotide sequences. We describe herein the characterization of the contaminant viruses in vivo by means of experimental infection in chickens. The contaminant viruses established transient viremia in specified pathogen-free (SPF) Leghorn chickens and elicited a robust and lasting antibody response detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. None of the contaminant ALVs induced tumors up to 31 wk of age, and mortality was insignificant. Despite a strong antibody response against the contaminant ALVs, vertical (congenital) transmission to the progeny of experimentally infected SPF chickens took place, albeit at a very low rate (< or = 1.6%). Experimental infection in meat-type chicken embryos resulted in viremia at hatch, suggesting that some meat-type chickens are susceptible to infection and support virus replication.     

Molecular characterization of three recombinant isolates of avian leukosis virus obtained from contaminated Marek's disease vaccines

Three natural recombinant avian leukosis viruses (ALV; PDRC-1039, PDRC-3246, and PDRC-3249) expressing a subgroup A gp85 envelope protein and containing long terminal repeats (LTR) of endogenous ALV-E viruses were isolated from contaminated commercial Marek's disease vaccines, cloned, and completely sequenced. Their full genomes were analyzed and compared with representative strains of ALV. The proviral DNA of all three isolates displayed 99.3% identity to each other, suggesting a possible common ancestor, even though the contaminating viruses were obtained from three separate vaccine serials produced by two different vaccine manufacturing companies. The contaminating viruses have a genetic organization typical of replication-competent alpharetroviruses. The proviral genomes of PDRC-1039 and PDRC-3246 are 7497 bp long, and the PDRC-3249 is three base pairs shorter because of a deletion of a threonine residue within the gp85 coding region. The LTR, gag, pol, and the transmembrane (TM) region (gp37) of the env gene of all three viruses displayed high identity to endogenous counterpart sequences (>98%). Only the surface (SU) region (gp85) of the env gene displayed high identity with exogenous ALV-A (98.7%). Locus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for ALV endogenous sequences (ev loci) in the chicken embryo fibroblasts used to produce the original vaccine vials identified the presence of ev-1, ev-2, ev-3, ev-4, and ev-6 in all three vaccines. Homologous recombination most likely took place to involve the SU region of the env gene because the recombinant viruses only differ in this particular region from the consensus ALV-E. These results suggest that the contaminating ALV isolates probably emerged by recombination of ALV-A with endogenous virus sequences before vaccine preparation.     

Effects of chemically or virus-induced immunodepression on response of chickens to avian leukosis virus

The effects of chemically or virus-induced immunodepression on the infection profile (development of viremia and antibody) and shedding of avian leukosis virus (ALV) were studied in progeny chickens of experimental or commercial breeder flocks. Chickens were infected with ALV subgroup A by contact at hatching and by oral inoculation at 4-5 weeks of age. In the first experiment, chickens were inoculated with a virulent strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at 1 day or 6 weeks of age. In the second experiment, chickens were neonatally treated with cyclophosphamide (CY), or were inoculated with strain T of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) at hatching, or were inoculated with strain JM of Marek's disease virus (MDV) at 2 weeks of age. The infection profile and cloacal shedding of ALV in chickens exposed to ALV and inoculated with immunodepressive viruses or CY were compared with those in hatchmates exposed only to ALV. In two of four chicken lines tested in the first experiment, shedding of ALV, as determined by virological assays of cloacal swabs at 22 weeks of age, was significantly higher in chickens infected with IBDV at 1 day of age than in uninfected hatchmates. The rate of shedding of ALV in one of these two lines was also significantly higher in chickens infected with IBDV at 6 weeks of age than in uninfected chickens. Further, the frequency of ALV-antibody detection at 22 weeks of age was significantly lower in chickens of these two lines infected with IBDV at 1 day of age than in uninfected chickens. In the second experiment, neonatal treatment with CY significantly increased the frequency of viremic chickens of both experimental and commercial flocks. The frequency of ALV-viremic chickens at 22 weeks of age was considerably higher in the REV- and MDV-inoculated groups (54% and 44%, respectively) than in control hatchmates (29%), but only in chickens of the commercial line. These findings suggest that chemically or virus-induced immunodepression may lead to an increase in rates of viremia and shedding of ALV in chickens infected with virus after hatching, especially in certain genetic lines.     

Development of a polymerase chain reaction to differentiate avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroups: detection of an ALV contaminant in commercial Marek's disease vaccines

Avian leukosis viruses (ALVs) are common in many poultry flocks and can be detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or any other test designed to identify p27, the group-specific antigen located in gag. However, endogenous retroviruses expressing p27 are often present and can be confused with exogenous ALVs. A more specific and informative assay involves targeting the variable envelope glycoprotein gene (gp85) that is the basis for dividing ALVs into their different subgroups. We designed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers that would specifically detect and amplify viruses from each of the six ALV subgroups: A, B, C, D, E, and J. Subgroup B and D envelopes are related, and our B-specific primers also amplified subgroup D viruses. We also designed a set of common primers to amplify any ALV subgroup virus. To demonstrate the usefulness of these primers, we obtained from the Center for Veterinary Biologics in Iowa culture supernatant from chicken embryo fibroblasts infected with an ALV that was found to be a contaminant in two commercial Marek's disease vaccines. Using our PCR primers, we demonstrate that the contaminant was a subgroup A ALV. We cloned and sequenced a portion of the envelope gene and confirmed that the ALV was a subgroup A virus. Unlike typical subgroup A viruses, the contaminant ALV grew very slowly in cell culture. We also cloned and sequenced a portion of the long terminal repeat (LTR) from the contaminant virus. The LTR was found to be similar to those LTRs found in endogenous ALVs (subgroup E) and very dissimilar to LTRs normally found in subgroup A viruses. The E-like LTR probably explains why the contaminant grew so poorly in cell culture.     

Observations on an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses

In the detection of antibodies against exogenous subgroup A avian leukosis viruses (ALVs) using a representative subgroup A virus, concordance between enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and serum neutralizations ranged from 83 to 95%. In ELISAs, subgroup A- and subgroup B-specific neutralizing antisera were equally reactive against ALVs of subgroups A, B, and E. Conversely, little cross-reactivity of high-titered subgroup E antisera was observed against subgroup A viruses. Significant cross-reactivities of spontaneously induced subgroup E-neutralizing antisera were observed when tested against a representative subgroup B ALV. Because some normal chickens spontaneously mount antibodies against infectious endogenous viruses, misleading results may be obtained if subgroup B or E ALVs are the source of target antigens in ELISAs.     

芦花鸡传染性肿瘤病的流行病学调查

从山东某养殖场散养的60日龄芦花鸡随机抽取100只隔离饲养,分别于65、120、190、240日龄翅静脉采血,动态检测禽白血病（AL）AB、J亚型抗体、网状内皮组织增殖病（RE）抗体;取泄殖腔棉拭子动态检测禽白血病病毒（ALV）群特异性抗原p27;同时对患瘤病死鸡进行剖检、病理组织学检查、PCR病原检测。结果显示,鸡群在240日龄时出现13．24％的ALV-AB抗体阳性率,未检测到ALV—J抗体,网状内皮组织增殖病病毒（REV）抗体在120日龄时出现阳性,且阳性率随日龄增加而升高;p27阳性率为34．21％～66．18％;开产前后鸡群开始出现肿瘤性疾病,一直持续至240日龄,死亡率达32％,120～190日龄为死亡高峰期;剖检病鸡可见内脏器官普遍肿大,肝、脾、肾表面及切面有大小不等的灰白色肿瘤样结节,部分病鸡坐骨神经肿胀;组织学检查,肿瘤组织为浸润性生长的多形态淋巴样细胞构成,符合马立克氏病（MD）的病变特征;PCR检测16份肿瘤病料中有14份为ALV-J阳性（87．5％）,13份马立克氏病病毒（MDV）阳性（81．25％）,2份为REV阳性（12．5％）,ALV-J与MDV、REV混合感染率分别为68．8％（11／16）、12．5％（2／16）,三重感染率为6．3％（1／16）。该芦花鸡群存在ALV、MDV和REV的共感染。     

地方品种HR土鸡不同亚型禽白血病病毒的共感染

为研究HR土鸡中存在的不同亚型禽白血病病毒(ALV)共感染的情况,本实验分别采集46只HR土公鸡的泄殖腔棉拭子和455枚鸡蛋卵白样品,采用ELISA试剂盒检测p27抗原;并采用相应的ELISA试剂盒分别检测卵黄中J亚型ALV(ALV-J)和AB亚型ALV(ALV-AB)抗体。结果表明:HR土公鸡泄殖腔棉拭子样品中p27检出阳性率为87%(40/46),卵白检出率为74.7%(340/455);而卵黄中ALV-J和ALV-AB抗体阳性率分别为0(0/30)和80%(24/30)。无菌采集初步筛选p27抗原检测为阳性的5只HR土公鸡的抗凝血接种CEF,采用抗ALV-J和ALV-A的单克隆抗体进行IFA检测,结果显示5份样品中ALV-A和ALV-J的阳性率均为100%(5/5)。同时选取HR土鸡分离株HR332进行PCR扩增鉴定,结果表明分离株HR332存在ALV-J(HR332J)和ALV-A(HR332A)。其中,HR332J与11株ALV-J国内外参考株的同源性为92.4%～97.9%;HR332A与ALV-A参考株RSA-A、MQNCSU的同源性分别为90.1%和89.7%,与国内分离株SDAU09E2的同源性为99.0%。本研究显示,地方品种HR土鸡存在不同亚型ALV共感染,同时ALV-A和ALV-J共感染同一个鸡的现象已经存在。     

Isolation and some characteristics of a subgroup J-like avian leukosis virus associated with myeloid leukosis in meat-type chickens in the United States.

Several subgroup J-like avian leukosis viruses (ALV-Js) were isolated from broiler breeder (BB) and commercial broiler flocks experiencing myeloid leukosis (ML) at 4 wk of age or older. In all cases, diagnosis of ML was based on the presence of typical gross and microscopic lesions in affected tissues. The isolates were classified as ALV-J by 1) their ability to propagate in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) that are resistant to avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroups A and E (C/AE) and 2) positive reaction in a polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for ALV-J. The prototype strain of these isolates, an isolate termed ADOL-Hc1, was obtained from an adult BB flock that had a history of ML. The ADOL-Hc1 was isolated and propagated on C/AE CEF and was distinct antigenically from ALV of subgroups A, B, C, D, and E, as determined by virus neutralization tests. Antibody to ADOL-Hc1 neutralized strain HPRS-103, the prototype of ALV-J isolated from meat-type chickens in the United Kingdom, but antibody to HPRS-103 did not neutralize strain ADOL-Hc1. On the basis of both viremia and antibody, prevalence of ALV-J infection in affected flocks was as high as 87%. Viremia in day-old chicks of three different hatches from a BB flock naturally infected with ALV-J varied from 4% to 25%; in two of the three hatches, 100% of chicks that tested negative for virus at hatch had evidence of viremia by 8 wk of age. The data document the isolation of ALV-J from meat-type chickens experiencing ML as young as 4 wk of age. The data also suggest that strain ADOL-Hc1 is antigenically related, but not identical, to strain HPRS-103 and that contact transmission of ALV-J is efficient and can lead to tolerant infection.     

山东不同品系蛋鸡禽白血病流行病学调查

为了解山东不同品系蛋鸡白血病流行情况,作者采集了山东各地区主要引进品系及地方品种鸡的血清3882份、棉拭子2428份和疑似病例41例,对采集样品分别进行了血清学、病理学及病原学检测.结果表明:包括祖代鸡在内的各品系蛋鸡群P27抗原阳性率为19.36%;ALV-A/B亚型抗体阳性率9.29%、ALV-J亚型抗体阳性率5.18%、REV抗体阳性率13.77%;发病鸡群主要是商品鸡群和父母代鸡群,海兰褐祖代鸡群也有发病;病理学诊断证明肿瘤类型主要为髓细胞瘤(27/41)、血管瘤或血管内皮细胞瘤(7/41)、纤维肉瘤(2/41)、平滑肌肉瘤(2/41)及马立克氏病(5/41);PCR检测结果显示,41份病料中有33份为ALV-J阳性(80.49%);22份为MDV阳性(53.66%);两者共感染率高达43.9%;从疑似病例分离到的17株ALV-J病毒gp85基因的同源性为94.0%～100%,与ALV-J原型株HPRS-103 gp85基因同源性为94.3%～98.7%;与其它已发表的分离毒株ALV-J gp85基因的同源性较低(84.4%～96.8%).调查结果表明,目前山东各品系蛋鸡群均存在ALV感染,其中以ALV-J为主,ALV-A和ALV-B同时存在,且存在与MDV、REV的混合感染,病鸡主要表现髓细胞瘤和血管瘤.     

Replication-competent endogenous avian leukosis virus in commercial lines of meat chickens

Group-specific (gs)-antigen-positive egg albumen in seven commercial lines of meat chickens was found to result from the presence of endogenous avian leukosis virus (ALV); these lines had resisted selection attempts to reduce the shedding rate. In two meat lines, exogenous as well as endogenous ALV contributed to the gs-antigen shedding. All hens that produced gs-antigen-positive albumen transmitted endogenous ALV to a high proportion of their embryos (20 to 100%). Hens shedding gs-antigen to albumen were negative for endogenous ALV in vaginal swabs and had no detectable antibody to subgroup E virus. Chickens hatched from these dams were negative for endogenous ALV in meconia but were viremic at 2 weeks of age. Replication-competent endogenous ALV was almost uniformly expressed in embryos of hens from nine meat lines that were negative for gs-antigen in albumen. Shedding of gs-antigen to albumen was not related to the level of endogenous ALV expression. Embryos from five meat lines tested were resistant to infection with ALV of subgroup E. The level of endogenous gs-antigen in albumen was consistently lower than the level of exogenous gs-antigen.     

广西凭祥斗鸡禽白血病病毒检测及分离株env基因分析

为了解广西凭祥市特有家禽品种斗鸡禽白血病病毒(ALV)的感染情况,采集了该市3个鸡场斗鸡的肛拭子、血清、血浆样品共344份,用禽白血病ELISA检测试剂盒进行检测。结果显示,斗鸡ALV感染情况严重,其中肛拭样品ALV-p27抗原阳性率高达39.13%,血清样品病毒分离阳性率为12.97%,ALV-J和ALV-A/B抗体阳性率分别为22.39%和7.46%;对从2只斗鸡获得的病毒分离株DJ-3-18和DJ-45进行病毒囊膜蛋白基因env的扩增、序列测定及比较分析,结果显示2株病毒的gp85基因与ALV-A亚群参考株之间氨基酸的同源性为88.2%~96.5%,gp37基因与ALV-A亚群参考株之间氨基酸的同源性为91.4%~98.0%,其中与台湾A亚群蛋鸡源分离株TW-3577的亲缘关系最近,而与ALV其他亚群毒株的同源性则较低。结果表明,首次获得的2株斗鸡源ALV分离株属A亚群。     

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) infection, shedding, and tumors in maternal ALV antibody-positive and -negative chickens exposed to virus at hatching

Chickens highly susceptible to avian leukosis virus (ALV) infection and tumors, with and without ALV subgroup A maternal antibody (MAB), were infected with a field strain of ALV subgroup A at hatching. Viremia, antibody development, cloacal and albumen shedding, and tumors in chickens with MAB (MAB+) were compared with those in chickens lacking MAB (MAB-). At 18 weeks of age, the incidence of viremia was significantly lower in MAB+ chickens than in MAB- chickens; further, MAB significantly reduced the proportion of tolerantly infected (viremic antibody-negative) chickens. Cloacal shedding of ALV at 22 weeks of age and shedding of ALV group-specific (gs) antigen in albumen of eggs from all laying hens at 30-32 weeks of age were significantly lower in MAB+ hens than in MAB- hens. The incidence of ALV-induced tumors was lower in MAB+ chickens than in MAB- chickens, significantly so in one of three trials conducted. These results suggest that MAB may influence the development of viremia, antibody, and shedding of ALV following massive exposure to virus at hatching.     

Sarcomas and myelocytomas induced by a retrovirus related to myeloblastosis-associated virus type 1 in White Leghorn egg layer chickens

An outbreak of subcutaneous sarcomas in commercial White Leghorn egg layers was observed in the northeastern United States during late 2004. Subcutaneous tumors were confined to three flocks distributed in two locations and belonging to the same company. The tumors were first observed grossly by farm personnel at approximately 7 wk of age and persisted throughout the economic life of the flocks. Most of the tumors observed during the growing period were present on the facial region or around the head, wings, and legs. There was no gross evidence of bursal or visceral involvement. Microscopically, most tumors were undifferentiated sarcomas and myxomas. There was no microscopic evidence of Marek's disease or lymphoid leukosis. Reticuloendotheliosis virus proviral DNA was not detected by polymerase chain reaction either in tumors or in cell cultures. Egg production and mortality rates were within normal limits in the affected flocks and many of the chickens exhibiting tumors seemed healthy otherwise, albeit approximately one-half of the daily mortality exhibited tumors. Avian myeloblastosis-associated virus type 1 (MAV-1) was isolated from tumors, plasma, and serum. Upon initial virus neutralization, the viruses isolated seemed at least partially related antigenically to avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroups A and B but not to subgroup J (ALV-J). Sequencing of the variable and hypervariable regions of gp85 in the envelope gene revealed that the viruses involved are closely related to MAV-1. Attempts to reproduce subcutaneous sarcomas with MAV-1 isolated from White Leghorn chickens in the case herein reported produced exclusively myelocytomas indistinguishable histologically from those induced by ALV-J in meat type chickens.     

Effect of diluting Marek's disease vaccines on the outcomes of Marek's disease virus infection when challenged with highly virulent Marek's disease viruses

Dilution of Marek's disease (MD) vaccines is a common practice in the field to reduce the cost associated with vaccination. In this study we have evaluated the effect of diluting MD vaccines on the protection against MD, vaccine and challenge MD virus (MDV) kinetics, and body weight when challenged with strains Md5 (very virulent MDV) and 648A (very virulent plus MDV) by contact at day of age. The following four vaccination protocols were evaluated in meat-type chickens: turkey herpesvirus (HVT) at manufacturer-recommended full dose; HVT diluted 1:10; HVT + SB-1 at the manufacturer-recommended full dose; and HVT + SB-1 diluted 1:10 for HVT and 1:5 for SB-1. Vaccine was administered at hatch subcutaneously. One-day-old chickens were placed in floor pens and housed together with ten 15-day-old chickens that had been previously inoculated with 500 PFU of either Md5 or 648A MDV strains. Chickens were individually identified with wing bands, and for each chicken samples of feather pulp and blood were collected at 1, 3, and 8 wk posthatch. Body weights were recorded at 8 wk for every chicken. Viral DNA load of wild-type MDV, SB-1, and HVT were evaluated by real time-PCR. Our results showed that dilution of MD vaccines can lead to reduced MD protection, reduced relative body weights, reduced vaccine DNA during the first 3 wk, and increased MDV DNA load. The detrimental effect of vaccine dilution was more evident in females than in males and was more evident when the challenge virus was 648A. However, lower relative body weights and higher MDV DNA load could be detected in chickens challenged with strain Md5, even in the absence of obvious differences in protection.