Comparison of serological and virological findings from subgroup J avian leukosis virus-infected neoplastic and non-neoplastic flocks in Israel.
Blood samples from nine broiler breeder flocks comprising five flocks clinically affected with myeloid leukosis tumours (ML+) and four tumour-free flocks from the same commercial background (ML-) were compared for avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) serum antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for antigenemia (group-specific antigen) by antigen-trapping ELISA and for viremia. Group-specific antigen was detected in the sera of 58.1% of ML+ birds and 46.4% of the ML- birds (P=not significant), while 45.5% of ML+ birds and 24.1% of the ML- birds had ALV-J antibodies (P=0.065). In inoculated cell culture, 64.1% of the ML+ sera were viremic compared with 16.7% of the ML- sera (P=0.001). Similar significant differences were found between the two groups of flocks when ALV-J viremia was detected by immunofluorescence using a monoclonal env antibody (P=0.004), and for proviral DNA by polymerase chain reaction using two different sets of env-gene primers, H5-H7 (P=0.001) and R5-F5 (P=0.001). Using the primer pair R5-F5 the product size was approximately 1 kbp, while some heterogeneity in size among isolates was discernable. Our results indicate that a combination of diagnostic tests should be adopted in routine examination of tumour material in order to rule out false-negative findings.
Malkinson
Mertyn
M
Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit Dagan 50250, Israel. martinm@moag.gov.il
Banet-Noach
Caroline
C
Davidson
Irit
I
Fadly
Aly M
AM
Witter
Richard L
RL
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002645:Chickens; D017931:DNA Primers; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007557:Israel; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers