Abstract
BackgroundSubgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) is an oncovirus which can induce multiple types of tumors in chicken. In this report, we found novel ALV-J infection is closely associated with serious hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in chicken.Case presentationThe layer chickens from six flocks in Jiangsu province, China, showed serious hemoperitoneum, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Histopathological results indicated focal lymphocytic infiltration, cell edema and congestion in the liver, atrophy and depletion of lymphocyte in the spleen. Tumor cells were not detected in all the organs. avian hepatitis E virus (aHEV), which is thought to be the cause of a very similar disease, big liver and spleen disease (BLS), was not detected. Other viruses causing tumors or liver damage including Marek’s disease virus (MDV), reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), fowl adenovirus (FAdV) and chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) were also proved negative by either PCR or RT-PCR. However, we did detect ALV-J in those chickens using PCR. Only novel ALV-J strains were efficiently isolated from these chicken livers.ConclusionsThis is the first report that chicken hepatomegaly and splenomegaly disease was closely associated with novel ALV-J, highlighting the importance of ALV-J eradication program in China.
Highlights
Subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) is an oncovirus which can induce multiple types of tumors in chicken
This is the first report that chicken hepatomegaly and splenomegaly disease was closely associated with novel avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J), highlighting the importance of Avian leukosis virus (ALV)-J eradication program in China
Avian leukosis virus (ALV) belongs to the retroviral family associated with multiple types of tumors, including lymphoid leukosis, myelocytoma, hemangioma and some other malignant tumors
Summary
Avian leukosis virus (ALV) belongs to the retroviral family associated with multiple types of tumors, including lymphoid leukosis, myelocytoma, hemangioma and some other malignant tumors. Novel ALV-J strains with large mutations or deletion in genome have been isolated [7]. We reported the detection and isolation of novel ALV-J from chickens with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, and analyzed the molecular characteristics of two ALV-J isolates from these chickens. These results should help us better understand the impact of ALV-J infection to the poultry industry. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the whole genome of ALV-J strains JSYC2106-1 and JSYC2106-2 were clustered into the branch of layer chicken ALV-J isolates (Fig. 3b). Homology of the genome of the two strains were 96.3-97.2% with that of the layer chicken ALV-J isolates previously identified in China. The two isolates in this study had a deletion of 130bp in redundant transmembrane (r-TM) and carried a complete E element, which is unique among other isolates
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