Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Avian Disease and Oncology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #281420
Title: Leukosis/Sarcoma Group

Author
item NAIR, VENUGOPAL - Institute For Animal Health
item Fadly, Aly

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2012
Publication Date: 10/20/2013
Citation: Nair, V., Fadly, A.M. 2013. Leukosis/Sarcoma Group. In: Swayne, D.E, Glisson, J.R., McDougald, L.R., Nolan, L.K., Suarez, D.L., Nair, V., editors. Diseases of Poultry, 13th edition. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell. p.553-592.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The leukosis/sarcoma (L/S) group of diseases designates a variety of transmissible benign and malignant neoplasms of chickens caused by members that belong to the family Retroviridae. Because the expansion of the literature on this disease, it is no longer feasible to cite all relevant publications that provide the scientific basis for our current knowledge of the disease. Lymphoid leukosis has been the most common form of L/S group of diseases seen in field flocks, although myeloid leukosis has also become prevalent. The neoplasms and their synonyms are listed in Table 15.5. Members of this group of avian viruses are characterized, as are all members of the Retroviridae, by possession of an enzyme reverse transcriptase, which directs the synthesis of the proviral DNA form of the RNA virus that forms part of the retroviral life cycle and from which the family name is derived. Because of the relationships between these viruses, they are discussed as a group in most parts of this chapter. Sections reflecting the host response (“Pathology and Pathogenesis of the Infectious Process”) are discussed under the pathologic entities without regard for the properties of the inducing virus (es) other than their inclusion in the L/S group.