Serologic profiles of chickens infected with subgroup J avian leukosis virus.
Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) causes serious economic losses in the commercial poultry industry. Measuring group-specific antigen (GSA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used to identify chickens infected with this virus. However, the inability of ELISA to discriminate the GSA from endogenous ALV (subgroup E ALV [ALV-E]) or ALV-J infection has limited its usage. The purpose of the present study was to develop a method to discriminate between uninfected flocks having ALV-E and ALV-J-infected flocks by ELISA. The GSA and anti-ALV-J antibody in the plasma samples from chickens at different ages in three grandparent farms were measured by ELISA. Infected flocks were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with different subgroup-specific primers and sequence analysis. The results indicated that the GSA of ALV-J-infected flocks increased, but that of the uninfected flocks decreased during young ages. The anti-ALV-J antibody of infected flocks was higher and increased earlier than that of uninfected flocks. Thus, measuring GSA in blood at the ages of 1 and 6 wk by ELISA is suitable to discriminate between ALV-J-infected flocks and uninfected flocks having ALV-E.
Hwang
Chyi-Sing
CS
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Wang
Ching-Ho
CH
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral