Cardiomyopathy in broiler chickens congenitally infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup J

Dilated cardiomyopathy and ascites in broiler chickens are frequently associated with rapid growth and pulmonary hypertension, but can be associated with some avian leukosis virus (ALV) infections. The novel subgroup J of ALV has a high cardiac tropism, but dilated cardiomyopathy has not been reported previously. We report a dilated cardiomyopathy incidence of 11.1% in broiler chickens congenitally infected with ALV subgroup J (ALV-J). Gross lesions included severe body weight suppression, cardiomegaly with biventricular dilation, right ventricular hypertrophy, visceral congestion, and ascites. Cardiac myocytes and Purkinje fibers contained 2- to 10-microm intracytoplasmic magenta inclusions that contained ALV-J-specific nucleic acid. Ultrastructurally, inclusions contained ribosomes and immature virions and were associated with myofibril disruption and disarray. Peracute centrilobular hepatic necrosis was present in most cases. ALV-J-associated cardiomyopathy may involve a direct viral effect on cardiac myocytes and Purkinje fibers.     

Heterophil function and resistance to staphylococcal challenge in broiler chickens naturally infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup J

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J has a high tropism for myeloid lineage cells and frequently induces neoplastic transformation of myelocytes. The impact of congenital avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection on the function of circulating heterophils and susceptibility to staphylococcal infection was investigated. Six-week-old broiler chickens negative for exogenous avian leukosis viruses or congenitally infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup J were inoculated intravenously with 10(6) colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus, and pre- and postinoculation heterophil function was assessed. All chickens developed a leukocytosis with heterophilia after inoculation, but total leukocyte and heterophil counts were significantly higher in leukosis-negative chickens than in virus-infected chickens. Tenosynovitis was more severe in leukosis-negative chickens, and 2/10 (20%) of the virus-infected chickens had no histologic evidence of tenosynovitis. Osteomyelitis in the tibiotarsus or tarsometatarsus developed in 5/10 (50%) of the chickens in each group. S. aureus was recovered from the hock joint of 6/10 (60%) of the chickens in each group. Heterophils from all chickens exhibited similar phagocytic ability pre- and postinoculation. Heterophils from virus-infected chickens exhibited less bactericidal ability preinoculation than did heterophils from leukosis-negative chickens. However, postinoculation bactericidal ability was similar in both groups. Avian leukosis virus subgroup J provirus was present in heterophils isolated from congenitally infected chickens. Heterophils isolated from broiler chickens congenitally infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup J exhibit no significant functional deficits, and infected and uninfected chickens exhibit similar susceptibility to staphylococcal infection.     

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.     

Avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection profiles in broiler breeder chickens: association with virus transmission to progeny

Profiles of infection with avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) and factors that predict virus transmission to progeny were studied. Eggs from an infected broiler breeder flock were hatched at the laboratory. The flock was reared in a floor pen, transferred to laying cages at 22 wk, and inseminated to produce fertile eggs. A cohort of 139 chickens was tested at frequent intervals over a 62-wk period for virus, viral antigens, or antibodies in plasma, cloacal swabs, egg albumen, and embryos. Virus was detected in 7% of chicks at hatch but spread rapidly so that virtually all chicks became infected between 2 and 8 wk of age. Mortality due to myeloid leukosis and related tumors was 22%. Over 40% of the chicks developed persistent infections, whereas the remainder experienced transient infections. Five types of infection profiles were recognized. Novel responses included hens that were positive for virus intermittently or started late in life to shed viral antigens into the cloaca. ALV-J was isolated from 6% of 1036 embryos evaluated between 26 and 62 wk. However, over 90% of the virus-positive embryos were produced between 29 and 34 wk of age. Of 80 hens that produced embryos, 21 produced at least one infected embryo and were identified as transmitters. All but one transmitter hen would have been detected by a combination of viremia, cloacal swab, and albumen tests conducted between 18 and 26 wk. However, virus was transmitted to embryos from hens that were not persistently viremic or that rarely shed viral group-specific antigen into the albumen of their eggs. Intermittent patterns of both antigen shedding and virus transmission to embryos were observed in some hens. These results validate current screening procedures to identify potential transmitter hens and provide some suggestions for improvement but also show that identification of all transmitter hens by such procedures is unlikely. Thus, eradication programs based solely on dam testing may be less effective than those where dam testing is combined with procedures to mitigate early horizontal transmission in progeny chicks.     

商品代肉鸡J亚群禽白血病的病理及病毒分离鉴定

通过对山东某肉鸡养殖场发病的商品肉鸡组织病理学检查和将病料接种鸡胚成纤维细胞 (CEF) ,我们在国内首次从商品代肉鸡中分离到了 J亚群禽白血病病毒 (AL V- J)。从组织切片中可以看到肝脏、脾脏等器官的髓细胞瘤细胞 ,呈散在或成簇 ,髓细胞瘤细胞的细胞质内显现嗜酸性颗粒。用抗 AL V- J囊膜糖蛋白的单克隆抗体进行的 IFA中 ,病料接种 CEF后进行的 IFA呈现强阳性     

The effects of avian leukosis virus subgroup J on broiler chicken performance and response to vaccination

The effects of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) infection on meat-type chickens reared in a simulated commercial setting were evaluated. Each of three ALV-J isolates was evaluated with both simulated horizontal transmission (SHT) and simulated vertical transmission (SVT). Mortality, morbidity, disease condemnations, and feed conversions were increased and body weights at processing were decreased in ALV-J infected birds as compared to sham inoculated hatch mates. The adverse effects of ALV-J infection were more severe in birds exposed by SVT than in birds exposed by SHT. At 8 weeks of age response to vaccination for infectious bronchitis virus and Newcastle disease virus or prior exposure to a pathogenic reovirus was assessed in the ALV-J and sham inoculated broiler chickens by challenge studies. Although not statistically significant, an overall trend of decreased protection to challenge after vaccination, or prior exposure, was observed in the ALV-J inoculates as compared to sham inoculated hatch mates. Differences in vaccine response were most evident in groups inoculated with ALV-J by the SVT route.     

Immunohistochemical localization of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in tissues from naturally infected chickens.

The tissue tropism of avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroup J (ALV-J) was investigated in congenitally infected broiler chickens by an immunohistochemistry technique detecting gp85 viral glycoprotein. All organs examined contained detectable antigen. The most intense staining was in the adrenal gland, heart, kidney, and proventriculus. Intense staining for viral antigen in the heart may explain the ability of ALVs to cause cardiomyopathy. Although recent investigations failed to demonstrate specific viral staining in bone marrow from infected chickens, we were able to show moderate staining in myelocytic precursor cells in bone marrow. This finding agrees with previous work showing cell cultures of bone marrow are susceptible to ALV-J infection and the tendency of subgroup J to predominantly induce myeloid rather than lymphoid neoplasms.     

LTR对J亚群禽白血病病毒感染的影响

为探讨LTR基因在骨髓瘤病变型J亚群禽白血病病毒(ALV-J) NX0101致病中的作用,利用反向遗传将血管瘤病变型ALV-J HN06株中两端LTR元件替换至NX0101株的相应位置,拯救出重组病毒NX-HNLTR株.人工接种7日龄SPF雏鸡,分别检测NX0101株和NX-HNLTR株对鸡体的影响.感染鸡生长都较慢.感染NX0101株的鸡,胸腺指数和腔上囊指数明显比对照组低,脾脏指数与对照组相比波动较大,骨髓和脾脏在攻毒后3周可检测到病毒整合到基因组中,胸腺和腔上囊在攻毒后6周才检测到.感染NX-HNLTR株的鸡脾脏指数明显比对照组低,攻毒后2周可检测到病毒整合到脾脏基因组中,骨髓和胸腺分别在攻毒后3周和6周检测到.结果提示,LTR对NX0101株感染鸡的免疫器官有一定的影响.     

实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测禽白血病病毒J亚群

将禽白血病病毒J亚群(ALV-J)NX0101毒株接种1日龄和7日龄SPF雏鸡并设阴性对照组,采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法,定期检测病毒在体内的复制情况。根据GenBank发表的ALV-Jenv基因保守序列(AY897227)设计1对特异性引物扩增目的基因;根据鸡的3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶(GAPDH)基因序列(K01458),在保守区内设计1对引物扩增内参照基因,分别克隆入质粒作为标准品制作标准曲线,采用SYBR GreenⅠ染料建立荧光定量PCR法,并对方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行评价。结果显示,标准曲线的Ct值与标准品浓度的对数值之间存在线性关系;最低每个反应可检测到60个拷贝的病毒数,比常规PCR灵敏度高1 000倍。检测结果分别采用绝对定量法和相对定量法进行分析,都达到了良好的效果。通过对病毒含量变化的检测发现,在雏鸡4周龄时,2个接毒组ALV-J病毒突然呈对数式增长。据此分析ALV-J病毒在体内经过3~4周潜伏后,突然呈暴发式增长,这种情况可能和临床表现的免疫抑制直接相关。结果表明,本试验建立了一种特异性强、敏感性高、可定量分析ALV-J病毒增殖的方法,为进一步相关研究奠定了基础。     

Myotropic avian leukosis virus subgroup J infection in a chicken

The study describes a highly productive myotropic avian leukosis virus infection (ALV) in a 3-month-old female chicken. At necropsy, ascites, hepatic fibrosis and cardiomegaly were seen. Histologically, the most striking lesion was the presence of cytoplasmic basophilic inclusions in myocardial fibers. Immunostaining for ALV group specific antigen p27 revealed a diffuse presence of virus antigen in cardiac myofibers, in smooth muscle fibers of most of the organs, and in rare, pancreatic and ovarian theca cells. Ultrastructurally, myocardial inclusions consisted of clusters of 50-60 nm round particles with interspersed ribosome-like granules. Numerous C-type particles were found in intercellular spaces of ALV p27 positive tissues. PCR analyses revealed the presence of both ALV-E and ALV-J related sequences. In chicken genome, ALV-E is usually present as endogenous provirus therefore, the pathological findings observed in this case are considered to be related with the ALV-J infection. The results of this report further confirm that ALV-J may be responsible for highly productive myotropic infections.     

J-亚群禽白血病JL-2株的分离鉴定

近年来，J-亚群禽自血病的暴发流行在国内时有报道，在本研究中，自吉林某患病鸡群分离出一株病毒，采用特异性引物，经RT-PCR扩增出长度为545bp的J-亚群禽自血病病毒特异性核苷酸片段；将病毒经SPF鸡胚成纤维细胞增殖，获取其前病毒DNA，依据原型毒株RPRS-103 cDNA序列设计并合成一对引物，经PCR扩增得到包括gp85、gp37、E-element基因在内的近1．8kb的DNA片段，将其连到pMD18-T载体上，转化大肠杆菌JM109，培养后提取质粒分别用Hind Ⅲ，BamHI进行单酶切和双酶切鉴定，得到了阳性重组质粒pMD18-T-JL2／env，核苷酸序列测定结果表明，该片段为J-亚群禽白血病病毒囊膜基因，其中亚型特异性片段gp85和标准对照毒株HPRS-103的同源率为94％，所编码氨基酸的同源率为87％。     

禽白血病病毒J亚群诱导CD117^+chB6^+前体B细胞克隆无能引起机体免疫耐受

禽白血病病毒J亚群(ALV-J)属于反转录病毒科α-反转录病毒属的第10个亚群,由英国学者Payne于1991年分离于肉鸡,之后迅速向全世界传播,在1997年~1998年,ALV-J诱导的髓细胞瘤病在欧美肉种鸡群全面爆发,造成了 1/3肉种鸡的损失,有些地区甚至到了无鸡可养的地步。ALV-J垂直传播和水平传播能力均高于其它亚群,其中垂直传播是其扩散的主要途径,病毒经由卵进入子代后,可引起机体产生4种状态,即病毒阳性抗体阴性(V+A)、病毒阳性抗体阳性(V+A+)、病毒阴性抗体阳性(V+A+)和病毒阴性抗体阴性(V-A-),其中V+A-是感染鸡群的主要状态.     

Localization of avian leukosis virus subgroup J in naturally infected chickens by RNA in situ hybridization.

The novel subgroup J of avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) has emerged as a significant cause of myeloid neoplasia and weight suppression in broiler chickens. We investigated viral tropism using RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) in naturally infected chickens. Formalin-fixed tissues were collected from 12-day-old embryos (seven infected, two control) and from 0-week-old (four infected, one control), 3-week-old (five infected, one control), 6-week-old (five infected, one control), and 9-week-old (10 infected, two control) chickens naturally infected with ALV-J in ovo. A 636-base antisense riboprobe complementary to the 3' and 5' ends of the pol and env viral genes, respectively, was constructed. Strong positive staining was present in cardiac myocytes, Purkinje fibers, vascular and pulmonary smooth muscle, renal glomeruli, distal tubules, and pituitary glands. Light staining was present in gastrointestinal smooth muscle, thyroid and adrenal glands, and follicular medullae in the cloacal bursa. Staining was not present in any hematopoietic precursors. Tissues from newly hatched chicks exhibited the strongest and most consistent staining, whereas staining in embryos was minimal. RNA ISH confirmed the presence of ALV-J-specific nucleic acid within cytoplasmic inclusions in cardiac myocytes, Purkinje fibers, pituitary glands, and renal glomeruli. Viral tropism for cardiac myocytes and Purkinje fibers may relate pathogenetically to the cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure described in index chicken flocks infected with ALV-J. Viral tropism for endocrine organs may relate pathogenetically to the weight suppression associated with infection.     

应用组织芯片免疫组化法检测ALV-J

禽白血病J亚群（ALV-J）是英国的Payne和他的同事们在20世纪90年代初从肉鸡中分离出来的新亚群，主要引起肉鸡的骨髓瘤白血病。自1999年，我国一些肉用型种鸡场陆续发生了禽白血病J亚群。并且近几年来，ALV-J已从最初只引起肉种鸡发病开始向蛋鸡及中国地方种鸡蔓延。组织芯片技术是一种新型特殊的生物芯片技术，它能明显提高工作效率，减少实验误差。本研究将组织芯片技术和免疫组化染色结合起来，用特异性抗ALV-J囊膜蛋白gp85的单克隆抗体来检测发病鸡只的各组织器官的组织切片。在肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、卵巢、腺胃、骨髓、髓细胞瘤组织均检出病毒阳性抗原。结果表明组织芯片技术和免疫组化染色相结合为临床诊断ALV-J提供了一个高通量、敏感的检测方法。     

Detection of subgroup J avian leukosis virus infection in Australian meat-type chickens

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) infection in Australian broiler breeder flocks, using virus isolation and molecular biological detection. Any resultant ALV-J viral isolates to be characterised by neutralisation cross testing in order to determine antigenic relationships to overseas isolates of ALV-J. STUDY DESIGN: Samples of blood, feather pulp, albumen and tumours were obtained from broiler breeder flocks which represented four genetic strains of meat chickens being grown in Victoria, South Australia, NSW and Queensland. Dead and ailing birds were necropsied on farm and samples were collected for microscopic and virological examinations. Virus isolation was carried out in C/O and DF-1 CEF cultures and ALV group specific antigen was detected in culture lysates using AC-ELISA. Micro-neutralisation assay was used for antigenic characterisation of selected isolates. Genomic DNA was isolated from cultured cells, tumours and feather pulp. ALV-J envelope sequences were amplified by PCR using specific ALV-J primers while antibodies against ALV-J were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 62 ALV-J isolates were recovered and confirmed by PCR from 15 (31.3%) of 48 breeder flocks tested. Antibody to ALV-J was detected in 20 (47.6%) of the 42 flocks tested. Characteristic lesions of myeloid leukosis caused by ALV-J were found in affected flocks. The gross pathological lesions were characterised by skeletal myelocytomas located on the inner sternum and ribs, neoplastic enlargement of the liver, and in some cases gross tumour involvement of the spleen, kidney, trachea, skeletal muscles, bone marrow, skin and gonads. Microscopically, the tumours consisted of immature granulated myelocytes, and were present as focal or diffuse infiltrations in the affected organs. Virus micro-neutralisation assays demonstrated antigenic variation among Australian isolates and to overseas strains of ALV-J. CONCLUSION: ALV-J infection was prevalent in Australian broiler breeder flocks during 2001 to 2003. Australian isolates of ALV-J show a degree of antigenic variation when compared to overseas isolates.     

J亚群与E亚群禽白血病自然重组病毒的全基因组序列分析

为了解我国东北地区部分养鸡场禽白血病病毒(ALV)的基因组序列特征及其变异情况,本研究从具有典型血管瘤病变的禽白血病发病鸡中分离到一株J亚群ALV(ALV-J)命名为JL0901,并进行了全基因测序.将该序列与已发表的ALV-J毒株序列进行比较研究,结果表明JL0901基因组的gag和pol基因相对保守,而env基因和3'端非编码区(3'UTR)的变异较大.对JL0901的env基因核苷酸序列进一步分析发现,在其gp85基因和gp37基因交界位置发生J亚群和E亚群ALV重组现象.本研究证实国内鸡群中存在J亚群和其他亚群ALV的自然重组现象,并表明国内ALV已出现新的变异趋势.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to subgroup J avian leukosis virus.

In an attempt to develop a specific diagnostic test for avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroup J (ALV-J) strain Hc1, four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), JE9, G2, 145, and J47, were generated that are specific for ALV-J envelope glycoprotein, gp85. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify genomic pro-viral DNA of Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory (ADOL)-Hc1 and ADOL-4817 envelope genes. Both open reading frames encoding glycoproteins gp85 and gp37 were cloned into baculoviruses. Abundant expression of gp85 and gp37 was detected in the recombinant viruses with specific antibody to Hc1 strain of the ALV-J. The expressed proteins were used for immunization of mice to produce hybridoma cell lines secreting MAbs specific to ALV-J envelope protein. A panel of MAbs was generated by fusing NS1 myeloma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with the recombinant baculoviruses. With the use of an immunofluorescence assay, three MAbs (JE9, G2, 145) reacted with ALV-J but not with subgroups A, B, C, D, or E of ALV. MAb J47 reacted with all exogenous subgroups of ALV including A, B, C, D, and J but not with endogenous subgroup E viruses. Western blot analysis was performed with all four MAbs against recombinant baculovirus and Hc1-infected chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) lysates. A major band with a molecular weight about 90 kD corresponding to the size of ALV-J envelope was consistently obtained. With these MAbs, we detected the Hc1 antigen in CEFs infected with several ALV-J viruses isolated in the United States and also in tissue sections from chickens infected with Hc1 strain of ALV-J. These MAbs will be useful reagents for the diagnosis of ALV-J infection because they recognize a common antigenic epitope in six isolates tested thus far.     

Avian leukosis subgroup J in broiler breeders in Switzerland

Since a new envelope subgroup (J) of the avian leukosis-sarcomatosis-complex was isolated for the first time from broiler breeders in the United Kingdom in 1989 and was characterized and associated with myeloid leukosis (syn. myelocytomatosis) the emergence of this subgroup was reported from all over the world. Thus the first known case of subgroup J avian leukosis in Switzerland in four imported broiler breeder flocks will be described. A total of 53 broiler breeder birds from four flocks showing reduced performance and increased mortality were submitted for postmortem examination. Approximately 20 blood samples from each flock were monitored serologically for antibodies against avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J). On necropsy myeloid leukosis (ML) was diagnosed in all four flocks. Furthermore the blood samples of three flocks showed significant ELISA-titres for ALV-J.