ARS | Publication request: RESPONSE OF CHICKENS CARRYING GERMLINE INSERT ALVA11 TO CHALLENGE WITH A FIELD STRAIN OF SUBGROUP A AVIAN LEUKOSIS VIRUS.

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is the most common avian retrovirus associated with cancer-like disease conditions and other production problems in chickens. Understanding the interaction between exogenous ALV and host-related endogenous viral genetic elements (DNA units) is essential in developing any programs to control ALV infection in both egg-laying and meat-type breeders. Our data showed that chickens that harbor a host-related endogenous viral genetic element termed ALVA11 were found to be more resistant to infection with ALV than chickens that do not harbor such element. The new information should be of practical importance to breeders who wishes to control ALV infection by inserting disease resistance genes in their germ lines. It should also be useful to scientists interested in the role of endogenous viral elements in the response of chickens to infection with exogenous viruses.

Technical Abstract: The ALVA11 germline insert in chickens is a defective subgroup A avian leukosis virus (ALV) proviral insert that expresses a low-to-moderate level of subgroup A ALV envelope glycoprotein. Chicks carrying or lacking ALVA11 were evaluated for response to challenge by RPL-42, a pathogenic field strain of subgroup A ALV, by either exposure to chicks shedding RPL-42 or direct injection with various doses of RPL-42. Chicks carrying ALVA11 were significantly more resistant, as measured by infectious virus and viral antibody status, to horizontal infection and direct injection of RPL-42 than chicks lacking ALVA11.