title: Cardiomyopathy in broiler chickens congenitally infected with avian leukosis virus subgroup J.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Athens Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 30602, USA. nstedman@vet.uga.edu
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Stedman
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000145:classification; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002645:Chickens; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology